Cuba Grapples with Soaring Cooking Oil Prices and Fuel Shortages

Cuban comedian Otto Ortiz used a satirical video to highlight the dramatic rise in cooking oil prices, noting that a bottle of oil now serves as a status symbol. He joked, “What really irritates me are those people who, to show off their opulence or wealth, start wearing huge gold chains and medallions,” and added that “there are more practical ways to show you’re doing well.” Prices for a liter of oil have climbed from about 1,500 pesos in April to over 4,000 pesos in August, straining household budgets.

At the same time, a visitor’s surprise trip to the island exposed a severe fuel shortage. The traveler reported that a rental car arrived with barely any gasoline, forcing her to pay five dollars for just two litres and even push the vehicle to a nearby station. The shortage stems from halted Venezuelan shipments and reduced supplies from Mexico, prompting Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy to acknowledge that national fuel reserves are depleted. The combined oil price surge and fuel scarcity underscore the deepening economic crisis facing ordinary Cubans.