"Cubans Mock New 350 CUP Gas Cylinder Price Amid Widespread Shortages"

On Thursday, the Cuban regime set the new official price for a ten-kilogram liquefied gas cylinder at 350 pesos (CUP), equivalent to 35 CUP per kilogram. This decision sparked a wave of sarcasm and outrage across social media, as citizens pointed out the glaring contradiction: the government is hiking the price of a product that is virtually absent from state-run markets.

The announcement also listed the price of manufactured gas at 4.97 CUP per cubic meter, reflecting a 55% increase from the previous rate of 225 CUP, which had been in place since March 2024. At that time, the justification was to "remove the subsidy." Now, with no such explanation, the cost is rising once again.

Public Outcry on Social Media

The response on social media was swift and unequivocal. One user encapsulated the widespread sentiment on CiberCuba's Facebook post: "It doesn't exist, so it doesn't matter." Another simply wrote, "What gas? Ha ha ha." A third commented, "The joke of the moment. Prices go up, but where's the product?"

Several comments highlighted the historical inconsistency of these price hikes. "When they raised it to 180 CUP, they said it would eliminate the subsidy. What's the reason for this increase now?" questioned one user. Another pondered whether the official price would ever be practical: "Will they sell it at that price, or will it remain symbolic, with the actual price being in USD?"

Realities of the Gas Market

The skepticism is not unfounded. Digital platforms like Supermarket23, Katapulk, and KMCERO are selling gas cylinders for between 24 and 29 USD—equivalent to over 15,000 CUP at the informal exchange rate—with delivery only available in Havana and the requirement to return an empty cylinder.

In the informal market, prices range from 10,000 to 50,000 CUP depending on the province. One user reported a common practice: "I received a link to buy it, but when I tried, the page said it was under maintenance. However, they were still selling. It's a business for some to resell."

Another user warned, "They need to start selling them soon, or we'll be left with no forests, having to make charcoal or cook with firewood."

Economic Crisis Reflected in Gas Price Spiral

The escalating cost of liquefied gas underscores the deep-seated crisis in the Cuban economy: from 110 CUP before 2021, the price increased to 180 CUP in March of that year, then to 225 CUP in March 2024, and now to 350 CUP.

One user astutely observed, "This is what happens when you raise salaries without productive support. It only increases inflation, not purchasing power."

Another summed it up with bitterness: "The issue isn't raising the price; it's the same old story. They raise it, disappear the product, and there's never any available. I've heard this tale too many times."

The scarcity has tangible and devastating effects. In April, 834,000 of Cuba's 1.7 million liquefied gas customers couldn't obtain the product from state distributions.

CUPET, the state oil company, indefinitely suspended distribution in Santiago de Cuba and all eastern provinces in January after Venezuelan shipments halted following the capture of Nicolás Maduro.

With the gas shortage, millions of Cuban families have reverted to cooking with wood and charcoal, a situation President Díaz-Canel described as "creative resistance."

The energy landscape at the time of this announcement further fuels perceptions of governmental cynicism. On July 14, a day before setting new gas prices, Cuba experienced its fifth total electrical system collapse of the year. On July 8, the country recorded its largest energy deficit in history: 2,341 MW, affecting 73% of the population. Energy Minister Vicente de La O Levy admitted in May that Cuba has no reserves of fuel oil or diesel.