By Timothy S. Donahue
Top Takeaways:
- Export strength: The Dominican Republic produced and exported more than 196 million premium handmade cigars last year.
- Growing footprint: Tobacco cultivation acreage in the country has increased roughly 50% since 2019.
- Economic driver: Tobacco and cigar exports generated more than $1.38 billion and support about 40,000 direct jobs.
The Dominican Republic exported more than 196 million premium handmade cigars last year as the country continued to strengthen its position as one of the world’s largest premium cigar producers.
According to Iván Hernández Guzmán, director of the Dominican Tobacco Institute, most cigars were shipped to international markets in 148 countries, with the United States remaining the country’s largest trading partner.
“The nation ranks second in the sector behind Nicaragua,” Hernández Guzmán said in comments reported by Dominican media.
Industry estimates place Nicaragua’s annual premium cigar exports at roughly 280 million to 310 million handmade cigars, maintaining its position as the global leader by export volume. Still, the Dominican Republic remains one of the world’s most important premium cigar manufacturing hubs and is home to many of the industry’s largest factories and international brands.
New first-quarter 2026 data from the Cigar Association of America (CAA) show that Honduras shipped 17.2 million premium handmade cigars to the U.S. between January and March, edging out the Dominican Republic’s 15.6 million cigars.
The Dominican tobacco sector currently generates approximately 40,000 direct jobs, according to INTABACO, with women comprising roughly 62% of the workforce. Hernández Guzmán said tobacco and tobacco-related products account for about 10% of the Dominican Republic’s total exports, generating more than $1.385 billion in annual revenue.
The country has also significantly expanded tobacco cultivation in recent years. According to INTABACO, land dedicated to cigar tobacco production rose from roughly 6,300 hectares in 2019 to 9,400 hectares in 2025 — an increase of nearly 50%, according to Cigars Connect.
Hernández Guzmán attributed part of that expansion to the growing recognition of tobacco and cigars as part of the country’s national identity and cultural heritage. In 2022, the Dominican government enacted Law 341, formally recognizing tobacco and cigars as part of the nation’s cultural heritage.
The Dominican Republic has benefited from sustained global demand for premium cigars in recent years, particularly in the United States, where consumers continue to drive growth in handmade premium cigars despite broader declines in combustible tobacco consumption.
