First Quarter Cigar Imports Grow By 7.2 Percent
Just when we thought there was a slowdown, cigar imports kicked into high gear. In the first quarter of 2025, imports of handmade, premium cigars to the United States were up 7.2 percent over the first quarter of 2024. More than 93 million cigars were shipped between January 1 and March 31, compared to 87 million for the same period last year.
This marks a sharp turnaround from the previous data released by the Cigar Association of America (CAA). Shipments through February were down 8.7 percent, which made many people think the market for fine cigars was showing some signs of cooling.
Market leader Nicaragua shipped 59.7 million cigars for the quarter, up 8.9 percent. The Dominican Republic shipped 16.9 million cigars, according to the CAA, down 3.1 percent. Honduras, which ranks third in shipments, had a 10.8 percent gain, to 15.3 million.
