“Chronic Shortage in Cuban Stores: MLC and National Currency Shops Suffer Equally”
Many Freely Convertible Currency stores in Cuba are facing chronic shortages, with empty refrigerators and shelves decorated with rows of the same product. This shortage is no longer exclusive to trade in national currency, as even stores in MLC are unable to maintain a stable assortment. This situation contradicts previous promises made by Alejandro Gil, Minister of Economy and Planning, who assured that stores in MLC would allow businesses to be supplied in national currency and that establishments in Cuban money would not disappear. This reality has led to shortages in not only national currency stores, but also in MLC stores, with prices increasing daily and products of questionable quality.
The situation is even more tense in the interior of the country, as marketing seems to prioritize Havana, leaving the rest of the country with limited options. This has led to a parallel distribution network, where products are sold at a premium by resellers who have proven to be more precise than the internal economy.
In many provinces, essential items such as sausages, jams, and affordable meats are absent from stores, leaving consumers to purchase them from alternative sources at higher prices. Personal hygiene and household hygiene items are also lost seasonally, with wet wipes and sanitary pads being notably absent from stores in several provinces.
Despite the shortages, the government continues to blame the blockade for the shortage, leaving consumers frustrated and in search of answers. This chronic shortage is affecting not only the availability of products, but also the overall economic well-being of the Cuban people.