The informal currency market in Cuba opened this Wednesday, September 17, 2025, with a mixed outlook: while the euro continued its climb and set a new historical record, the dollar edged down slightly, and the freely convertible currency (MLC) retreated after several days of tension.
According to the reference rates for the day, the US dollar (USD) dropped to 420 Cuban pesos (CUP), one point less than on Tuesday, when it had reached 421 CUP.
Informal exchange rate in Cuba Wednesday, September 17, 2025 - 06:00
- Exchange rate of the dollar (USD) to Cuban pesos CUP: 420 CUP
- Exchange rate of the euro (EUR) to Cuban pesos CUP: 477.5 CUP
- Exchange rate from (MLC) to Cuban pesos CUP: 200 CUP
The euro (EUR) continued to rise and was quoted at 477.5 CUP, two and a half pesos higher than the previous day and 17.5 above the level it had at the beginning of September.
Exchange Rate Evolution
The MLC, meanwhile, dropped to 200 CUP, after having consolidated at 205 CUP at the beginning of the week.
The most significant movement corresponds to the euro, which not only hits a new all-time high but also widens the gap with the dollar to almost 60 CUP.
The European currency has been on a nearly daily rise since the beginning of September, during which it made a notable jump of five points, reaching 475 CUP. The increase this Wednesday represents a gain of 8.5 CUP in just one week and 17.5 CUP so far this month.
This trend confirms the increasing appeal of the euro in the black market, especially for those who rely on remittances or transactions connected to Europe.
The dollar, while it remains at a high range, is showing difficulties in breaking upwards. The decrease of one peso can be interpreted as a minor adjustment following several days of stability around 420 CUP.
The MLC, for its part, is experiencing the sharpest decline: it drops the five pesos it had abruptly gained this Monday and once again finds itself at the "psychological barrier" of 200 CUP, where it remained in the second half of August, before the downward fluctuations and its "recovery" in September.
This behavior of "plastic money" could reflect a readjustment in demand associated with consumption in state-run stores that operate in foreign currency, criticized by Cubans for their increasing shortages.
Overall, the figures from this Wednesday indicate a volatile informal market: with the euro reaching new highs, a dollar that has eased slightly, and a MLC that is declining, the Cuban peso remains in a state of structural fragility that makes access to foreign currency more expensive for the population.
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