A particularly strong April has led to a nine percent increase in the number of handmade, premium cigars shipped to the United States, according to the Cigar Association of America. In April alone, exports reached 34.3 million handmade cigars, compared to 31.5 million in April 2023.
Year-to-Date Overview:
- Monthly Increase: April is the only month in 2024 to show an increase over 2023 numbers, reversing three months of decreases or flat results. This surge brought 2024’s exports in line with 2023’s figures.
- Total Shipments: For the first four months of 2024, 127.4 million handmade cigars have been shipped to the United States, nearly matching the 127.9 million shipped during the same period in 2023.
Country-Specific Trends:
- Nicaragua: Leading the way, Nicaraguan shipments are up 2 percent, totaling 74.8 million cigars for the first four months.
- Dominican Republic: Conversely, shipments from the Dominican Republic decreased by 5.9 percent, dropping to 31.5 million cigars.
- Honduras: Honduran exports also saw a decline, down 4.4 percent to 19.9 million cigars.
Together, these three countries account for 99 percent of handmade cigar exports to the United States. (Note: Cuba officially ships no cigars to the United States due to the longstanding embargo.)
Market Strength:
- The U.S. market for handmade cigars remains the largest in the world and continues to show resilience and growth. Exports have increased for four consecutive years, with the last three years seeing shipments exceed 400 million units annually.
The robust performance in April indicates a strong demand for handmade cigars in the U.S., reinforcing the market’s position as a global leader. As we move through 2024, it will be interesting to see if this positive trend continues.
