The Cuban content creator Yenelis López is trying to carve out a path as an entrepreneur in Cuba with a trading business based on a bottle of vegetable oil.
In a comedy video posted on Instagram, he asked that only "serious people" message him, because he clearly understands the value of the food product he has in his hands.
«I will trade a bottle of oil for a beach house that has a pool, golf course, modern car, and generator. Note that I will accept change. The oil is sealed,» Yelenis announced.
In August 2026, a liter of vegetable oil in the informal Cuban market may cost more than 4,000 Cuban pesos, with reports of prices reaching up to 5,000 CUP in some areas.
This represents between 30% and 60% of the official average monthly salary, which is around 7,074 CUP. The surge in oil prices in Cuba accelerated after Resolution 150/2026, which in June eliminated the price caps for imported cooking oils and revoked the previous limit of 990 CUP per liter.
Yelenis's reel has accumulated over 55,000 views in 24 hours and has dozens of messages with unusual proposals. The comments provide a snapshot of Cuban humor, despite the crisis.
"I see you speculating", wrote a colleague of the content creator. Another one pointed out: "Friend, appreciate your product, you are asking for very little" and a third one concluded: "You are giving it away! We have to laugh to avoid crying."
There were those who took the joke further. One user offered to raise the stakes: "I have a 10-liter gallon. Besides the house, I want a Honda Civic."
Another suggested a more practical solution: "Better to trade it for a plane ticket." And from abroad came a counteroffer: "Does a ticket with a journey to Brazil work for you?"
The price of oil also inspired a sketch by the comedian Loky Kubah, and one by the comedian Otto Ortiz, who, showing his gallon of the precious liquid, commented: "There are concrete, objective, and practical ways to show that you are prosperous" in Cuba.
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