Where premium cigars come from: U.S. import data by country (2026)
Cigario editorial · updated 11 October 2026
Almost every handmade cigar sold in the United States, the world’s biggest premium cigar market, is rolled in just three countries. The import numbers published by the Cigar Association of America show who makes them, how the market has changed since the 1990s boom, and why your next favorite cigar is most likely Nicaraguan.
- The U.S. imported 429.8 million premium cigars in 2025, the fifth year in a row above 400 million.
- Nicaragua ships about six in ten premium cigars. In 1998 it shipped only 24 million.
- The Dominican Republic is shrinking, Honduras is growing and has nearly caught up.
- Cuban cigars are not in these numbers: the U.S. embargo keeps them off the American market.
- The market has levelled off after the 2021 boom rather than crashing.
The Big Three in 2026
Through the end of July 2026, the United States imported 242.8 million premium, handmade cigars, 0.5% more than in the same period of 2025. Three countries made 98.7% of them. Every other producer, from Costa Rica to Mexico, the Philippines or Ecuador, is a rounding error in volume, even if some of them make excellent cigars.
Source: Cigar Association of America data as reported by Cigar Aficionado, 2 October 2026. "All others" is the remainder of the total.
The change against last year tells the more interesting story. Nicaragua held flat, the Dominican Republic dropped, and Honduras was the only major producer to grow, by more than 11%.
Honduras "up more than 11 percent"; Nicaragua "flat". Same source.
Thirty years of handmade cigars
The modern premium cigar market was shaped by two booms. The first, in the mid-1990s, took U.S. imports from roughly 100 million cigars a year to 417.8 million in 1997, then collapsed almost as quickly. The second started during the pandemic: 2021 was the first year above 400 million since 1997, and the market has stayed there ever since.
2022 as first reported (464.5 m). The 2023 figure was later revised from 467.8 m to 426.3 m, so year-to-year comparisons around 2022–2023 should be read with care.
The rise of Nicaragua
In 1998 the Dominican Republic shipped 184.8 million cigars to the U.S. and Nicaragua just 24 million. Two decades later the order had flipped. Nicaragua’s volcanic soils in the Estelí, Condega and Jalapa valleys, a wave of new factories and a taste shift towards fuller, spicier blends made it the center of the industry.
Shares of the three countries combined. *January–July. Source: Cigar Association of America via Cigar Aficionado.
Meet the three producers
Where is Cuba?
Cuba is the most famous cigar country in the world, but it does not appear in U.S. import statistics. The U.S. trade embargo keeps Cuban cigars off the American market, which is exactly why the non-Cuban industry grew so large there. In Europe, Asia and the Middle East the picture is different: Habanos is a major player, and in the Cigario catalog Cuban cigars are among the most reviewed. If you buy them, learn how to spot a fake Cuban cigar.
What the Cigario community smokes
Our catalog tells a similar story from the smoker’s side. Out of 534 cigars in Cigario, about 348 are Nicaraguan, 68 Dominican, 60 Cuban and 38 Honduran. Nicaraguan cigars also collect the most community reviews. Here are the most reviewed cigars from each of the Big Three right now:
What this means for you
- Choice is huge. A flat but large market keeps hundreds of new releases coming every year.
- Nicaraguan character dominates. If you like pepper, coffee and dark chocolate, the market is built for you.
- Watch Honduras. Rising volumes usually mean more new lines and more interesting value.
- Origin is a clue, not a rule. A Dominican cigar can be powerful and a Nicaraguan one can be creamy. Read the blend, then taste it yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Which country makes the most premium cigars?
Nicaragua. It shipped 258.4 million premium cigars to the United States in 2025 and accounts for about 60% of U.S. imports.
How many premium cigars does the U.S. import a year?
About 430 million: 429.8 million in 2025 and 430 million in 2024, according to the Cigar Association of America.
Why are there no Cuban cigars in U.S. import data?
The U.S. trade embargo on Cuba keeps Cuban cigars off the American market, so they are not imported legally and do not appear in these statistics.
Was 1997 the biggest year ever for cigars?
1997 was the peak of the 1990s boom at 417.8 million cigars. It was surpassed in 2021, when imports reached about 456 million.
Are Nicaraguan cigars stronger than Dominican cigars?
Often, but not always. Nicaraguan blends are known for bold, peppery profiles and Dominican ones for elegance, yet both countries make cigars across the whole strength range.
- Latest Import Numbers Show Slight Growth (2 Oct 2026) Cigar Aficionado
- Handmade Cigar Imports Hold Steady For First Half Of Year (14 Sep 2026) Cigar Aficionado
- Premium Cigar Imports Flat For 2025 (16 Apr 2026) Cigar Aficionado
- Cigar Imports Rise: 2024 Ends With Small Gain (8 Apr 2025) Cigar Aficionado
- 456 Million Handmade Cigars Shipped To U.S. In 2021 Cigar Aficionado
- Best Year For Handmade Cigar Imports Since 1997 (8 Apr 2019) Cigar Aficionado
- Pricey cigar trend back from the ashes (1997 and 1999 figures) NBC News
- Cigario catalog statistics, October 2026 Cigario
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