Small cigars, big exports

Cuba exported 64.7 million machine-made small cigars between January and May, according to an EFE News Service story quoting a Monday statement by the state-controlled Internacional Cubana de Tabacos (ICT).

Meanwhile, sales of such small cigars so far this year were valued at about $10 million, according to the official AIN news agency, citing ICT president Vladimir Rodriguez.

These products are sold in Spain, France, Germany, Britain, Switzerland, Greece, Canada, Argentina, Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia, Chile and some countries in Africa and the Middle East.

ICT manufactures seven types of cigars under the brand names of Cohiba, Partagas, Romeo y Julieta, Montecristo, Punch, Guantanamera, Quintero, Belinda and Troya.

Tobacco is the fourth-largest contributor to Cuba’s gross domestic product.