U.S. Premium Cigar Imports Climb 6.7% Through April 2025
The U.S. continues to show strong demand for premium cigars, with imports rising 6.7% in the first five months of 2025. Nicaragua leads the surge, cementing its role as the top cigar-exporting country to America.
Premium Cigar Imports on the Rise Again
The American market for premium, handmade cigars is showing steady growth in 2025. According to newly released data from the Cigar Association of America (CAA), imports rose by 6.7% from January through May when compared to the same period last year.
This increase follows a robust first-quarter report that showed a 7.2% jump in premium cigar imports over Q1 of 2024. The trend suggests sustained consumer interest and solid performance in the handmade cigar sector, despite economic pressures and regulatory uncertainty.
Nicaragua Strengthens Its Lead
Nicaragua remains the dominant force in the premium cigar trade. In the first five months of 2025, the country exported 83.3 million handmade cigars to the U.S.—an 11.4% increase over the same period in 2024. That figure reinforces Nicaragua’s position as the leading exporter of handmade cigars to the American market.
The Dominican Republic, long the second-largest exporter, showed a decline of 5.5%, with estimated shipments totalling 20.9 million cigars. The CAA clarified that Dominican figures were estimates and may not be final. Honduras came in close behind with 20.2 million cigars, showing a modest increase of 1.3% over last year’s figures.
Imports Reflect Market Health
While imports don’t equal sales, they offer key insights into market demand. Since more than 99% of premium handmade cigars are produced abroad, import data is considered the best available indicator of overall industry performance.
In 2024, the U.S. imported a total of 430 million premium cigars. If current trends continue, 2025 could surpass that number, making it another banner year for cigar imports.
Final Thoughts
Despite varied performance among producing countries, the U.S. premium cigar market remains vibrant. With Nicaragua leading the way and overall imports trending upward, retailers and aficionados alike have reason to stay optimistic as the year unfolds.
