With the good news that Corporación Habanos S. A., the entity that markets, promotes and exports Cuban cigars worldwide, achieved sales last year higher than 31 percent compared to 2022, the 24th Habano International Festival began this Monday in the capital's Convention Palace.
The information was released by Jorge Pérez, commercial vice president of the entity, in a press conference regarding the beginning of this meeting of tobacco lovers. He noted that last year sales reached $721 million. Regarding the cigar market by region, he reported that Europe occupies first place. with 56% of sales, while Asia is in second place with 21%, the continent American continent in third with 13% and Africa and the Middle East in fourth with 10%.
He also saids the entity's retail network achieved a performance last year stable with 159 cigar houses, 17 Cohíba Atmosphere that works under the regime of franchise and have 1,280 specialists in the network, 2,669 Habanos Point and 589 Habanos Terrace.
“In other words, we have been able to keep our distribution of cigars in the world through these establishments.” When addressing the festival program, which will conclude as usual with the gala dinner dedicated on this occasion to the 55th anniversary of the Trinidad brand, he said that he contemplates visits to tobacco plantations in Pinar del Rio, to rolling factories in the capital and, in addition, there will be keynote conferences, talks, pairings, contests and tastings among other activities. Highlights will undoubtedly be the night dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Habanos S.A., which takes place this year, to celebrate the 50th birthday of the Quai D´Orsay brand and the presentation of the special vitola to honor the 55th anniversary of Trinidad.
As always, the event will feature the trade fair, in which participants from 79 companies in 11 countries, including Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada and Cuba, will show their products and services, all related to the world of cigars. This 24th edition of the festival, which will conclude next Friday, has the presence of nearly 3,000 participants from 108 nations, as well as about 160 professionals from numerous press media from 17 nations.