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Supermarket23 offers liquefied gas LPG in a 10 kg cylinder—commonly known as a "balita"—for 29 dollars, with free shipping, under a condition that allows no exceptions: the recipient in Cuba must provide an empty cylinder of the same size and in good condition to receive the full one.
The news was highlighted this Tuesday by the Cuban broadcaster Laritza Camacho, who posted on Facebook with irony: "At supermarket 23, the canister of liquefied gas costs 29 dollars. Truly, this is a capitalism with a certain...irreversible character."
The platform specifies in the product description: "The recipient must have an empty 10 kg cylinder (balita) in good condition to make the exchange. Without an empty cylinder, delivery cannot be made."
The empty cylinder that is delivered must also meet minimum safety requirements: no perforations larger than two centimeters, a stable base, no advanced oxidation, and the ring in good condition.
Supermarket23 warns that "failure to comply with any of these conditions will result in the rejection of the empty cylinder at the time of delivery," and clarifies that the product is delivered sealed, without installation service.
The 29 dollars that the bullet costs is equivalent to 15,660 Cuban pesos at the current unofficial exchange rate this Tuesday, which is around 540 pesos per dollar, according to elTOQUE.
For most Cubans earning salaries in national currency, that amount represents an unaffordable expense.
The Cuban peso has lost about 95% of its value against the dollar since 2020, when it was trading at 42 pesos per dollar.
In just the last 12 months, the US dollar has risen by 47.8% against the peso, driven by the currency crisis that the island is experiencing.
The offer from Supermarket23 comes amid a chronic crisis in the state supply of LPG.
In January 2025, CUPET extended the purchasing cycle to one canister every two months in Ciego de Ávila, while the shortage in Matanzas affected more than 109,000 households between October and December 2024.
In January 2026, the tanker Emilia returned empty to Cuba due to the State's inability to pay, further worsening the shortage.
As a partial response, the regime expanded the manufactured gas service in Havana with a goal of 25,000 customers, without addressing the underlying issue.
Meanwhile, the dollarization of the energy sector is advancing unabated. Since January 2024, nearly 30 state-run service stations have been selling fuel exclusively in dollars, and the private sector has begun to import diesel directly from the United States under licenses authorized by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The regime, for its part, approved a regulation in February to require platforms like Supermarket23 to channel their foreign currency revenues into the state banking system.
The requirement to return an empty cylinder in good condition adds an additional barrier for many Cuban families, whose containers have accumulated years of deterioration without proper maintenance, which could prevent them from accessing the service even if they have the 29 dollars.
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