This is how the new million-dollar business of importing gas from the United States works in Cuba

The energy crisis in Cuba forced the regime to create room for a business that just a few years ago seemed unthinkable: the private importation of liquefied gas from the United States to sell in dollars within the island.

Platforms like Katapulk and Supermarket23 have recently started selling 10-kilogram liquefied gas cylinders — commonly known as “balitas” — for 29 dollars, with deliveries available in Havana.

The sale of gas in dollars operates under an exchange model: the customer receives a full cylinder and must return an empty one in good condition.

The gas sold by these platforms is imported from the United States by Cuban small and medium-sized enterprises (mipymes), using licenses authorized by the U.S. government.

The scheme marks a significant change within the Cuban energy sector. While CUPET is facing a supply crisis and financial difficulties in ensuring state provision, private companies linked to foreign currency trade have found a business opportunity amid the scarcity.

The operation works through private imports of LPG managed by small and medium-sized enterprises (mipymes), which then facilitate sales through digital platforms primarily targeted at Cubans abroad who usually make payments from outside the island.

The product is delivered sealed and without installation included. Additionally, companies require that the empty cylinder delivered has no punctures, advanced rust, or structural damage.

The rise of this market coincides with one of the worst moments for state supply of liquefied gas in Cuba. In January 2026, the tanker Emilia returned empty to the country due to the regime's inability to pay, exacerbating shortages in several provinces.

In parallel, the government has been expanding the dollarization of strategic sectors. Dozens of state gas stations have started selling fuel exclusively in dollars, while the private sector has been authorized to import diesel and now also liquefied gas.

The sale of a bullet for 29 dollars currently equals about 15,660 Cuban pesos at the unofficial exchange rate, a figure that is unattainable for most workers earning salaries in national currency.

In practice, the new gas market reveals two parallel realities in Cuba: a state economy unable to guarantee basic services and a dollarized circuit where only those who receive remittances or have access to foreign currency can obtain essential fuels for cooking amid power outages.