Havana residents crowd state store for subsidized sunflower oil

A large crowd gathered at the Supermix state-run store near the Focsa building in Havana to purchase sunflower oil priced at $2.40 per liter. The offer, which equates to approximately 1,600 pesos, was significantly lower than the informal market rate, where prices for the same product have reached as high as 6,000 pesos.

The sale caused tension and shouting among those waiting in line, with workers limiting purchases to five bottles per person to manage the crowd and prevent scalping. The entire stock was exhausted within two hours of the sale.

This incident highlights the ongoing economic challenges in Cuba following government reforms in June that eliminated price caps on essential goods like oil, chicken, and powdered milk. The removal of these controls was intended to combat inflation and product shortages, but has coincided with a sharp rise in the cost of basic necessities.