Cuba’s Fuel Prices Jump While Pumps Stay Dry

< Cuba’s Gasoline Crisis: Empty Pumps, Soaring Prices, and No End in Sight >

Cuba Doubles Fuel Prices—But the Stations Are Still Bone Dry

Havana’s streets have grown eerily quiet, not just because of the sweltering heat or the island’s enduring economic struggles, but because the pumps have run dry. Since early May, Cuba has doubled the price of gasoline and diesel—yet most stations in Havana have been shuttered for weeks. Drivers are left in the dark, scrambling to find fuel while officials offer little clarity on where or when they can refuel.

A Price Hike with No Fuel to Buy

The government insists the price surge reflects the "real" costs of importing oil, but with no deliveries in months, the move feels more like a gamble than a solution. A Havana taxi driver summed up the frustration: "We don’t even know where to get gas anymore."

The last major shipment—700,000 barrels from Russia—dried up by early May. Since then, Cuba’s fuel supply has become a frustrating guessing game, with no announced plan for restocking. Officials hint that future prices may fluctuate based on supplier whims, shipping chaos, or even the global oil market’s mercurial moods.

The Black Market’s Ruthless Reality

With official stations empty, black market prices have skyrocketed to $8–$10 per liter, pricing most Cubans out of the equation. Private businesses are scrambling to import fuel from unconventional sources—some even turning to the U.S.—but these costly workarounds aren’t trickling down to ordinary drivers.

A Blockade with Human Costs

The United Nations has condemned the U.S. fuel blockade as illegal, arguing it violates Cubans’ basic rights. Yet even as prices surge, the core issue isn’t affordability—it’s availability. Empty tanks and closed stations have turned refueling into a desperate hunt, leaving businesses stranded, commuters stranded, and hope in short supply.

The road ahead? A detour of uncertainty.