Premium Cigar Imports Slightly Up In Latest Report
Premium, handmade cigar shipments to the United States have been rising throughout the year, but the newest data suggests that they are starting to level. The latest data from the Cigar Association of America showed a modest gain of only 0.7 percent for handmade imports to the U.S. market through November 2024, to 389.8 million cigars. Imports were 387 million for the same period in 2023.
The modest increase was driven by exports from Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Nicaragua, the largest exporter of premium cigars to the United States, showed an uptick of 2.8 percent in 2024 over the previous year, to 233.2 million cigars. Costa Rica showed a much more dramatic increase of 77.1 percent (but from a comparatively tiny base) going from 1.3 million cigars in 2023 to 2.4 million in 2024. While the sheer volume from Costa Rica is small, the growth is notable.
The news wasn’t as positive for other countries. The Dominican Republic showed a year-to-date decline of 2.2 percent from 2023 to 2024, going from 94.9 million cigars to 92.9 million through November. Honduras was in decline as well, decreasing 4.7 percent from 63.4 million cigars in 2023 down to 60.4 million the next year.
U.S. Imports Of Premium Cigars
In Millions Of Cigars
| Country | Nov. 2024 | Nov. 2023 | Change |
| Nicaragua | 233.2 | 226.9 | 2.8% |
| Dom. Rep. | 92.9 | 94.9 | -2.2% |
| Honduras | 60.4 | 63.4 | -4.7% |
| Costa Rica | 2.4 | 1.3 | 77.1% |
| Other | 1.0 | 0.5 | 100.0% |
| Total | 389.8 | 387.0 | 0.7% |
Source: Cigar Association of America
Known as “The Big Three,” Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic and Honduras account for nearly all of the premium cigars exported to the United States. While other countries like the Philippines and Mexico also export handmade smokes, the numbers are relatively small.
December’s numbers have yet to be calculated, but two questions remain: Will 2024 meet or exceed 2023’s numbers? Will the industry be able to maintain a yearly export level of 400 million cigars? Final year-end numbers for 2024 are expected to arrive in a month or so.
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