Handmade Cigar Imports in U.S. Rise Slightly in First Half of 2024 Premium Cigar Market Remains Resilient Despite Predictions of Contraction

Imports of handmade, premium cigars into the United States continue to demonstrate resilience, with a modest rise in the first half of 2024. According to data released today by the Cigar Association of America, imports increased by 1.6%, reaching 191.7 million cigars, compared to 188.7 million in the same period last year.

While the growth is relatively small, the fact that there has been an increase at all underscores the strength of the handmade cigar market. Many industry analysts had anticipated a contraction following the significant sales surge that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these expectations, cigar sales have remained strong for four consecutive years, reaching levels not seen since the cigar boom of the 1990s. In 2023, a total of 467 million handmade cigars were imported into the U.S., marking a continued upward trend.

The vast majority of premium cigars imported into the U.S. come from three key countries: Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and Honduras. Both Nicaragua, the leading supplier, and the Dominican Republic, the second-largest producer, experienced increases in shipments in the first half of 2024. However, Honduras, the third-largest exporter, saw a decline in imports compared to the first half of 2023.

Though Cuba is a major global player in cigar production, its products remain absent from the U.S. market due to the embargo on Cuban goods, which prohibits the legal sale of Cuban cigars in the United States.

The continued strength of the U.S. handmade cigar market defies earlier predictions, suggesting that consumer demand for premium cigars remains robust in the post-pandemic era.