Exports Of Handmade Cigars Rise Nine Percent In April
A particularly strong April resulted in a nine percent increase in the number of handmade, cigars shipped to the United States, according to the Cigar Association of America. Exports for the month were 34.3 million handmade cigars, compared to 31.5 million in April 2023.
To date, April is the only month of 2024 with an increase over 2023 numbers. The strong showing reversed three months of decreases or flat results, pulling 2024 exports to date equal with 2023. For the first four months of the year, 127.4 million handmade cigars have been shipped to the United States, virtually equal to the 127.9 million shipped in the first four months of 2023.
Nicaraguan shipments for the first four months are up 2 percent, at 74.8 million, continuing its position of dominance as the leading exporter of handmade cigars to the United States. Dominican shipments decreased by 5.9 percent, to 31.5 million, and Honduras was down 4.4 percent to 19.9 million cigars. That trio of producers for 99 percent of handmade cigar exports to the United States. (Cuba of course, ships no cigars officially to the United States due to the longstanding embargo.)
The U.S. market for handmade cigars is the largest in the world, and one that continues to show signs of strength. Exports have grown for four years in a row, and the last three years have resulted in shipments of 400 million units or more.
