Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic — The Dominican Republic has reaffirmed its position as the world’s top exporter of premium cigars, producing more than 8.4 billion cigars per year, according to Iván Hernández Guzmán, director of the Dominican Tobacco Institute (Intabaco). Of this impressive total, over 181 million cigars are handcrafted, while the remaining 8.2 billion are machine-made, reflecting a thriving and diversified tobacco industry.
Speaking at the prestigious Dominican Cigar Expo 2025 held in Santiago, Hernández Guzmán emphasized the tobacco sector’s critical role in the national economy. Tobacco accounts for 10% of all Dominican exports and generates over US$1.34 billion in annual revenue, ranking second only to gold. The sector is also a powerhouse in employment, providing more than 40,000 jobs within free trade zones and supporting over 110,000 jobs nationwide.
The Dominican Republic’s cigars are especially favored in international markets, with 88% of premium cigar exports heading to the United States and another 10% destined for the European Union. This global demand is fueled by the country’s production of five tobacco types and 21 distinct varieties, including renowned strains like Dominican Olor, Havanensis, and Criollo.
Currently, the nation hosts 160 tobacco-processing companies spread across 15 provinces, producing over 330,000 quintals of tobacco annually. Key tobacco-growing regions include Santiago, Valverde, and Monte Cristi, which serve as the backbone of the Dominican cigar industry’s global success.
With continued international demand and government-backed initiatives supporting innovation and exports, the Dominican Republic is poised to maintain and expand its dominance in the global cigar market.
