In a surprising turn, individual Cuban citizens will now have the ability to make purchases at the newly sanctioned Wholesale Supply Market.CU, according to the Cuban government. However, they must adhere to the conditions set by each seller. This move challenges the previous assumption that such facilities would be reserved only for businesses or enterprises, marking a fresh attempt by the government to restructure the wholesale market amidst the island's ongoing supply crisis.
Documented in Resolution 13/2026 by the Ministry of Domestic Trade (MINCIN), and published on Tuesday in Extraordinary Official Gazette No. 84, the measure outlines the operational guidelines for the Wholesale Supply Market.cu. This new market model aims to grant both individuals and legal entities direct access to wholesale trade.
The Framework of Wholesale Supply Market.CU
The resolution describes the Wholesale Supply Market.CU as a venue where sellers and buyers meet under a supply-and-demand model, featuring bulk sales in various formats. Participants can include state enterprises, non-state management forms, national and local producers, importers, marketers, and even foreign investment entities.
In a notable change, the regulation allows individuals to make bulk purchases, though each seller will dictate the minimum quantities required. This implies that any citizen can access the market, provided they meet the buying criteria set by the vendor, whose minimum purchase requirements remain undefined and will vary by operator.
The market will operate in both Cuban pesos and foreign currencies, issue invoices, ensure electronic payments, and may incorporate e-commerce, including transactions initiated abroad. Additionally, the resolution hints at the establishment of membership or partnership mechanisms offering discounts or other perks to participants.
Operational Dynamics and Economic Reordering
According to the Ministry of Domestic Trade, the Wholesale Supply Market.cu is envisioned as a means to reorganize wholesale trade in Cuba.
Facilities may be located in warehouses, spacious stores, or open areas, ideally in urban or suburban regions accessible to freight vehicles and customers. Administrative control might be shared among various actors, with a managing entity responsible for setting up contractual relationships, organizing market operations, and providing logistical services.
Key operational priorities include the sale of inputs, raw materials, food, and other high-demand products, aiming to cut down logistical costs and offer a broader range of products.
This initiative is part of a broader economic restructuring framework released in the Official Gazette on Tuesday, which also introduced new regulations regarding the import, manufacture, and assembly of vehicles in Cuba.
However, this change is part of a larger trend of adjustments to the wholesale trade rules initiated by the government in recent years. In 2024, the regime tightened control over wholesale trade with new regulations that restricted small and medium-sized enterprises from engaging in self-directed activities and emphasized the state's role in merchandise distribution.
Additionally, this year saw the approval of measures to ease the commercialization of agricultural products amid declining national production and persistent shortages.
Understanding the New Wholesale Supply Market in Cuba
Who can buy from the Wholesale Supply Market.CU?
Both individual Cuban citizens and legal entities can purchase from the market, provided they adhere to the conditions set by each seller.
What payment methods will be accepted at the market?
The market will accept payments in Cuban pesos and foreign currencies and will facilitate electronic and e-commerce payments, including those from abroad.
Where will the Wholesale Supply Market.CU be located?
The market will be situated in warehouses, large stores, or open areas, preferably in urban or suburban locations with easy access for delivery vehicles and customers.