This is how the informal market closes in Cuba: The dollar is frozen and the euro declines

Latest News
By CiberCuba Editorial Team

Wednesday, August 12, 2026 - 8:35 PM

Currency in CubaPhoto © CiberCuba

At 8:00 PM, local Cuban time, the concludes the day on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, with mixed results: the dollar remains steady at 665 Cuban pesos, unchanged from the previous session, while the euro declines and closes at 760 pesos, below the 768 recorded yesterday.

The MLC, with limited data available during this time period, points to a reference value of 453 pesos, slightly above the previous close.

The U.S. dollar is quoted at 665 Cuban pesos (CUP) at the close of this Wednesday, with a buying rate of 660 and a selling rate of 670.

It remains unchanged compared to the previous day, consolidating a stability that, however, does not conceal a slight decline in the weekly outlook: seven days ago, the greenback was trading at 673 pesos, which signifies a drop of 7.5 pesos (-1.1%) during that period.

Exchange Rate Evolution

Compared to 30 days ago, when it was at 655 pesos, the dollar has gained 10 pesos (+1.5%). However, this comparison should be taken with caution, as it may reflect methodological adjustments in the index in addition to the actual market movement.

In the last month, the dollar has fluctuated between a low of 655 and a high of 675 pesos. The demand for dollars remains high among those seeking to protect their savings against the depreciation of the peso.

The euro closes lower this Wednesday: it is quoted at 760 Cuban pesos (CUP), with a buying price of 750 and a selling price of 770.

This represents a drop of 7.5 pesos (-1%) compared to the previous day, when it was reported at 768 pesos. The downward trend also extends into the weekly outlook: a week ago, the euro was exchanging at 785 pesos, which denotes a decline of 25 pesos (-3.2%) in the last week.

Compared to 30 days ago, when it was priced at 755 pesos, the euro has gained 5 pesos (+0.7%), although this variation may be influenced by methodological adjustments to the index.

In the last month, the European currency has fluctuated between a low of 753 and a high of 790 pesos. It exceeds the dollar by 95 pesos, consolidating its dominant position in the Cuban parallel market.

The MLC closes this Wednesday with a reference value of 453 Cuban pesos (CUP), with a buying rate at 445 and a selling rate at 461.

The available data in this range is scarce, so the figure should be interpreted with caution. Compared to the previous day, when it was reported at around 443 pesos, the MLC shows an increase of 10.5 pesos (+2.4%).

In the weekly comparison, it rises by 3 pesos (+0.7%) compared to 450 pesos a week ago. Compared to 30 days ago, when it was trading at 482 pesos, it has accumulated a decline of 28.5 pesos (-5.9%), although this variation may reflect adjustments in the methodology of the index.

In the last month, the MLC has fluctuated between a low of 413 and a high of 496 pesos. Without physical existence, its use is limited to state-run businesses that accept it, which restricts its circulation compared to cash currencies.

Exchange rate of the dollar USD to CUP: 665 CUP.
Exchange rate of the euro EUR to CUP: 760 CUP.
Exchange rate from MLC to CUP: 453 CUP (indicative value, limited data).

The official exchange rate of the Central Bank of Cuba (Segment III) is 624 CUP per dollar and 720 CUP per euro, significantly lower than the values that prevail in everyday practice in the informal currency market.

Although Segment III was introduced as a more flexible exchange mechanism, its official rate remains far from that of the informal market and fails to meet the actual demand for foreign currency from the population.

The gap between the official and informal rate is 41 pesos for the dollar and 40 pesos for the euro as of the close of business this Wednesday.

In an environment of sustained inflation, low state salaries, and increasing partial dollarization of the economy, every fluctuation in the informal market directly impacts internal prices and the purchasing power of Cubans.

The fall of the euro and the stagnation of the dollar today do not alleviate a structural situation in which the Cuban peso continues to lose real value against foreign currencies.

The Exchange Rate of CiberCuba is an index of the informal Cuban market created from the automated analysis of thousands of currency buying and selling posts in Telegram and Facebook groups.

The calculation disregards atypical offers and spam messages, weighs each transaction based on its age, and consolidates a representative value that is updated several times a day.