Cuba's Informal Currency Market Sees Dollar and Euro Rise Amid Structural Shortage

The informal currency market in Cuba closed on September 13, 2026, with the dollar and euro experiencing an upward trend. The US dollar ended the day at 694 Cuban pesos (CUP), up 1 peso from the previous day's close of 693 CUP. This represents a 1.6% increase compared to seven days ago, when it was trading at 683 CUP.

The euro also rose, closing at 791 CUP, a gain of 3 pesos over the previous session. Over the last week, the euro has increased by 15.5 pesos from 775 CUP, marking a 2% rise. Its dominance in the Cuban parallel market is further solidified as it surpasses the dollar by 97 pesos.

The MLC, used primarily by state-owned businesses that accept it, closed at around 479 CUP. This figure should be considered indicative due to the low volume of transactions recorded during this time frame. The official exchange rate set by the Central Bank of Cuba remains far below the rates in the informal market, with a gap of 39 pesos for the dollar and 31 pesos for the euro.