This footage was filmed and produced 29 April 2023.

Exports of Cuban cigars, the island's flagship product, registered a 31% increase in 2023, Habanos S.A. announced Monday, attributing the dramatic jump to strong global demand for the luxury product.

"Habanos S.A. for its entire 2023 management stood at a turnover of $721 million, which has represented a 31% increase in value compared to 2022," Jorge Perez Martell, the company's commercial vice president, said at a press conference on the occasion of the inauguration of the 24th International Habano Festival in the island's capital.

In 2022, sales increased by 2%, reaching US$545 million. In 2021, they had already had a 15% increase over the previous year, despite the pandemic.

"With the exit of the pandemic, both the luxury market in general, and specifically the consumption of premium cigars worldwide, has had a very strong growth in demand in all regions," said Jose Maria Lopez Inchaurbe, vice president in charge of development.

The development of high-end "specialized products", with "special and exclusive print runs" were also "growth drivers in 2023", according to the executive.

By country, "the world's leading market by value continues to be China," followed by Spain, Switzerland, Germany and the United Kingdom. In volume, Spain, France and China are the top three consumers.
Cuban cigars do not have access to the U.S. market because of Washington's embargo against the island.

SHOTLIST:
1. Various cigars;
2. Various of Cuban cigars production in Havana (29th of April, 2023).

[Note: partially no sound]