A Cuban woman living in Miami, identified as Mayre Pérez, took to Facebook to express her frustration over the oppressive conditions imposed by the Supermarket23 platform for sending a small gas cylinder to her family in Cuba. The island is currently facing a worsening liquefied gas supply crisis with no apparent resolution.
In a video recorded on a Sunday while she was working, Pérez explains that a 10 kg gas cylinder is advertised for $29. However, the platform requires a minimum purchase of $50 to process the order, forcing customers to add other products. Each additional item incurs separate shipping costs, with just sending a bottle of oil adding nine extra dollars on top of the cylinder's shipping fee.
"It's one rip-off after another," Pérez stated. "The gas cylinder is 29 bucks. But you can't buy it by itself. No, you have to get something else too."
According to her calculations, a single cylinder ends up costing around $65. "It's all about squeezing every last penny out of us," she lamented.
Dozens of Cubans in the diaspora echoed her experience in the comments. Rosa Diaz de la Rocha shared, "I just sent a gas cylinder and some small items, and it cost me $68." Ruben Prieto mentioned that his order totaled $60. A European user posted a screenshot showing a total of 63.66 euros, including 11.93 euros solely for delivery charges.
Katia Reyes Reyes broke down the mechanics: "Since you must purchase additional items to reach $50, they charge for shipping each product separately. They created this system to force purchases, exploiting the people's needs."
Several commenters pointed fingers at the regime as the true beneficiary of this scheme. "Supermarket is government-owned," wrote AriagnaAlain Capote. Yoel Díaz Díaz was more blunt: "We are the best workers for the dictatorship." Investigative reports have linked Supermarket23 to the Cuban state company Alcona, part of the Flora y Fauna group under the Ministry of Agriculture.
Supermarket23 started selling 10 kg liquefied gas cylinders for $29 on May 6, with initial delivery limited to Havana, contingent on returning an empty cylinder in good condition. The inventory sold out within hours, and by May 11, the platform announced logistical reorganization to resume service.
The dollarization of gas occurs amid an unprecedented supply crisis. Of the 1.7 million liquefied gas customers in Cuba, over half couldn't buy from the April 2026 distributions. In Matanzas, more than 109,000 households have lacked regular supply since October 2024. The state-run CUPET indefinitely suspended distribution in Santiago de Cuba and eastern provinces in January 2026.
Resignation mingles with anger among those who, despite the cost, see no alternative. "They know, and so do we, that as long as we have family there, we'll keep stretching our resources. It's the never-ending story," Dione Oliva summarized in the comments.
Understanding the Challenges of Gas Purchases in Cuba
Why does Supermarket23 require a minimum purchase of $50?
Supermarket23 imposes a minimum purchase requirement to process orders, compelling customers to add other products, which increases the overall cost due to separate shipping charges for each item.
How has the gas supply crisis affected Cuban households?
The gas supply crisis has left more than 50% of Cuba's 1.7 million liquefied gas customers unable to purchase gas in recent distributions, severely impacting households across the island.
Who benefits from the current gas purchasing system?
Commenters allege that the Cuban government benefits from the purchasing system, with Supermarket23 being linked to the state-owned company Alcona, part of the Flora y Fauna group under the Ministry of Agriculture.