Starting this Wednesday, it begins to take effect in Cuba the temporary regulation of maximum prices for the collection and retail sale of domestically produced rice and beans.
The measure, established in the Agreement 10093 of March 5, 2025, was published in the Official Gazette No. 7 (extraordinary) and aims to contain inflation in these essential products.
How are regulated prices set?
The Ministry of Finance and Prices (MFP) set maximum prices both for purchasing from producers and for selling in retail markets:
- Arroz: To 110 pesos per pound in stock and 155 pesos per pound in the retail network.
- Bean:
- With state supplies: 140 pesos per pound at collection points and up to 196 pesos in retail sales.
- Without state supplies: 200 pesos per pound at collection points and up to 285 pesos in retail markets.
The government has clarified that this regulation does not replace the regulated family basketbut rather seeks to offer an additional purchasing option to the population.
Confusion and uncertainty among the population
Since the official announcement, many people have expressed doubts and concerns about the implementation of the measureSome citizens wonder if these products will be available in state markets and if the capped prices in the private sector will truly be respected.
On social media, a user commented that the regulated basket has been [available] for months does not receive beans, which has generated skepticism about the actual access to these foods. Others have reported that in several markets prices remain well above the announced caps.
I just bought beans for 370 pesos and when I complained about the price, they told me they had been given 20 days to clear the inventory they already had," said a consumer.
Another pointed out that in a market in Santiago de las Vegas the beans continue to be sold at 350 pesos per pound, and in Havana, a point of sale in La Coronela continues offering black beans at 450 pesos and the red one at 580.
Will the government be able to enforce the regulation?
Price control in Cuba has proven difficult to implement in practice. Previous experiences have shown that, in many cases, regulated products disappear from the official market and end up being sold on the black market at even higher prices.
Several citizens have expressed their fear that this measure will end up worsening the shortage instead of improving accessibility to these foods. "We know what is going to happen, the same old story, those products will be lost," lamented a user on social media.
Additionally, some producers have expressed their concern about the profitability of agricultural productionWith limited procurement prices, profit margins could be reduced, discouraging the production of these crops in a context where agricultural inputs remain expensive and difficult to obtain.
Black market and resale: the other side of the problem
One of the most repeated comments by consumers is the concern about the illegal sale of agricultural productsNow the reseller buys them from them by the sack and everything stays the same," commented a user about the possibility that the regulation ends up benefiting intermediaries instead of the population.
There are also doubts about the availability of the products. "But, where will they be able to buy them? Because the rice is nowhere to be found," questioned another person.
What's coming: control or scarcity
With the regulation underway, The coming weeks will be key to assess whether the measure truly impacts prices or if, as many fear, the products disappear from the regulated market and reappear in the informal market at even higher prices.
While the government insists that the measure aims to protect consumers, the reality is that the price control does not increase the food supply, and without increased domestic production, scarcity and speculation could continue to dominate the agri-food landscape in Cuba.
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When the state produces what the people need, then competition will come and prices will have to move.
When the state is able to produce what the people need, then the resellers will have to lower their prices and competition will come, which happens when there are many products. Thank you.
Capping prices does not solve the problem, only production does; they should look for solutions there.
I am here in the Pan American Village and rice is 300 pesos per pound, beans 450, and potatoes 250 per pound, and nothing happens.
Which consists of if the state sets various points with a standardization for its sale and it naturally exists all year round, then we will see the result that black market prices would drop entirely for both rice and beans, and even other things, for example, tomatoes.
Due to such abundance in the black market, I have bought up to 30 lb, which is why these supplies can be purchased and the population feels the price is affordable.
In no little plaza is there rice or beans.
They removed it since Monday
No one supervises
Everything remains the same or worse
"THANK YOU"
At the market on 9th between E and F in Vedado, rice is 700 CUP per kilogram.
All those prices remain high and it is a disrespect to the Cuban people since the salary of a retiree of 1500 does not match those changes.
This is unheard of, a retiree with 1578. Do you think he can live on that alone? I know what you want, for all the old people to die. I am one.
In order to comply with everything that is regulated and established and that is being abolished because it is not controlled, as has also been the case with the resolution of transportation prices, that control must be passed to the people with serious means to report violations. There is no need for so many inspectors who sometimes end up in the hands of the offenders. What better inspector than price stamps sold at cost and mandatory for transporters and retail establishments to carry, also accessible to the people! That is the true power of the people. Today almost everyone has a mobile phone to report with photos, time, and place the distortions that are so often talked about, with feet firmly on the ground.
Where are the journalists? I see them quite passive with very important and valid educational issues, but for me, I also miss that revolutionary aggressiveness of Talía, Alfonso, and others that was seen at certain times with our commander, urging to connect with the people and their daily problems. Why don’t we take 10 minutes from the Round Table for a Minister to address their issue of daily shortages or another situation with
or without immediate prospects of it?
Our President and Marrero are in the fields and in the furrow day by day. We will leave this work to the rest. The more wickedness arises from the enemy, the more information and daily communication is needed with the people, if not, ask López Obrador and the President of Mexico. And if there are problems of ours, well, self-criticism and solutions as a result of them are also accepted with courage. Regards.
When will these idiots realize that price caps do not solve the problem? Prices will automatically drop when the supply of products is sufficient; that's basic high school economics, and these inept people who lead us are still clinging to what doesn't work. What will happen? The same as always, sellers will hide their merchandise and continue selling it at whatever price they want, maybe even higher than now, and who loses as always? The suffering, needy, and hungry people.
In the municipality of Guanabacoa, rice is at 270 and even up to 290.
Unfortunately, we don't see the light at the end of the tunnel because the first thing that needs to be cleaned up is that bunch of corrupt inspectors who are collecting a salary without doing their job and on top of that the profits they make from their badge, speechless among other things.
Every measure that is implemented always leaves a loophole for it not to be fully complied with. How does the customer know if the price of these products is with or without input costs??????
It's always the same!!!!!…. besides, no one follows up to ensure these measures are truly enforced, anyway, more of the same; I'm so tired of this!!!!!!!