The price of a liter of sunflower oil has soared to an unprecedented 2,500 Cuban pesos in Havana, marking a new high for 2026. Reports circulating on social media indicate that prices have already exceeded 3,000 pesos in some provinces.
This sharp increase is staggering when compared to previous months: back in April 2026, a liter cost around 1,500 pesos, and by June, prices ranged between 1,800 and 2,000 pesos across various regions. In just six weeks, the cost has nearly doubled in informal markets.
Cuban activist Yamilka Lafita, also known online as Lara Crofs, highlighted this trend on social media. Comments on her post corroborate the price surge, painting a picture of uneven costs throughout the island.
Sancti Spíritus experiences the most severe situation: “It’s already over 3,000 pesos. Who knows what it’ll be in the future,” remarked Elisa Hung. Meanwhile, reports from the Isle of Youth indicate prices at 2,800 pesos; Trinidad at 2,650; San Luis (Santiago de Cuba) and Holguín at 2,350; and Marianao, part of the capital, showing a slight drop to 2,050 pesos for now, as noted by Guillermo Daniel Garriga.
Public Outcry and Economic Struggles
Desperation echoes through the comments. “Everything is a fantasy. We take two steps, and oil jumps 500 pesos while cash slips ten steps further away,” summarized Yunior González, mocking one of the latest "blunders" by Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel.
More bluntly, Lisset Pino Pupo criticized, “The price of oil and other products is outrageous amid such scarcity and misery.”
Underlying Factors of the Oil Price Crisis
Two significant factors contribute to this price hike. Firstly, the complete absence of the product in the rationed basket: Minister of the Food Industry, Alberto López Díaz, admitted in June that no oil, chicken, or yogurt had been distributed through the ration book in all of 2026.
The second factor is the removal of price caps for imported oils, following the issuance of Resolution 150/2026 on June 21, which freed the informal market from any formal restrictions.
In a symbolic turn, the oil crisis reached an extreme in May, when cases emerged of Cubans using sunflower oil as a substitute for diesel in tractors and buses due to fuel shortages.
Understanding the Sunflower Oil Price Surge in Cuba
Why has the price of sunflower oil increased so drastically in Cuba?
The drastic increase is due to the elimination of price caps on imported oils and the complete absence of sunflower oil in the rationed basket, creating a high demand in informal markets.
How are Cubans coping with the high prices of sunflower oil?
Cubans are expressing frustration and desperation, as seen in social media posts, and some have resorted to using sunflower oil as a fuel substitute amid fuel shortages.