Record Sales for Cuban Cigars
2022-05-18
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1Cuba's state-owned cigar company Habanos S.A. recently reported it had record sales of its famous hand-rolled cigars in 2021.
2Travel restrictions in 2020 because of the coronavirus had decreased demand from countries dependent on tourism.
3Restrictions also decreased demand at important duty-free shops in airports around the world.
4But Habanos reported a 15 percent increase in income over the previous year in a statement on its website.
5The news comes as vaccination programs began to take effect and some world travel restarted.
6Cuba's hand-rolled cigars are considered by many to be the best in the world.
7The report on cigar sales is good news for the Cuban economy.
8The country has been severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic and increased U.S. sanctions.
9Habanos said in its statement it would also make prices the same across markets for its most costly cigars.
10The company said it would use the Hong Kong market for setting the price of its special Cohiba and Trinidad cigars.
11Cigar Aficionado is a top cigar industry publication.
12It predicted the larger Cohibas will soon reach a price of $100 on the announcement.
13The publication noted that the Hong Kong market is among the priciest worldwide.
14"Bigger Cohibas will sell for $100 each ... and boxes will no longer be priced in the hundreds of dollars, but in the thousands," the publication said in a story on its website.
15Habanos usually holds a party early in the year for tobacco experts and sellers.
16The event includes tours of Cuba's historic plantations and factories.
17Evening social activities provide opportunities to try Cuban tobacco products.
18This year, however, the party was once again called off.
19The Cuban cigar maker said Spain, China, Germany, France and Switzerland are the top markets for Cuban cigars.
20Cuba cannot sell its cigars to the United States, the biggest worldwide market for cigars, because of a long-standing U.S. trade embargo.
21I'm Jonathan Evans.
1Cuba's state-owned cigar company Habanos S.A. recently reported it had record sales of its famous hand-rolled cigars in 2021. 2Travel restrictions in 2020 because of the coronavirus had decreased demand from countries dependent on tourism. Restrictions also decreased demand at important duty-free shops in airports around the world. 3But Habanos reported a 15 percent increase in income over the previous year in a statement on its website. The news comes as vaccination programs began to take effect and some world travel restarted. 4Cuba's hand-rolled cigars are considered by many to be the best in the world. 5The report on cigar sales is good news for the Cuban economy. The country has been severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic and increased U.S. sanctions. 6Habanos said in its statement it would also make prices the same across markets for its most costly cigars. The company said it would use the Hong Kong market for setting the price of its special Cohiba and Trinidad cigars. 7Cigar Aficionado is a top cigar industry publication. It predicted the larger Cohibas will soon reach a price of $100 on the announcement. The publication noted that the Hong Kong market is among the priciest worldwide. 8"Bigger Cohibas will sell for $100 each ... and boxes will no longer be priced in the hundreds of dollars, but in the thousands," the publication said in a story on its website. 9Habanos usually holds a party early in the year for tobacco experts and sellers. The event includes tours of Cuba's historic plantations and factories. Evening social activities provide opportunities to try Cuban tobacco products. This year, however, the party was once again called off. 10The Cuban cigar maker said Spain, China, Germany, France and Switzerland are the top markets for Cuban cigars. 11Cuba cannot sell its cigars to the United States, the biggest worldwide market for cigars, because of a long-standing U.S. trade embargo. 12I'm Jonathan Evans. 13Dave Sherwood reported on this story for the Reuters news service. Jonathan Evans adapted this story for Learning English. 14___________________________________________________________________ 15tourism - n. the practice of traveling for recreation