Dominican Republic produces over 8 billion cigars annually

Santiago de los Caballeros.- The Dominican Republic remains the world’s top exporter of premium cigars, producing over 8.4 billion cigars each year, according to Iván Hernández Guzmán, director of the Dominican Tobacco Institute (Intabaco). Of this total, more than 181 million are handcrafted, while over 8.2 billion are made using machinery.

Speaking at the Dominican Cigar Expo 2025 in Santiago, Hernández Guzmán highlighted tobacco’s vital role in the national economy. The industry contributes 10% of the country’s exports and generates more than US$1.34 billion annually—second only to gold. It is the largest employer in free trade zones, creating over 40,000 jobs in that sector and more than 110,000 jobs nationwide.

With 88% of premium cigar exports destined for the United States and 10% for the European Union, the Dominican Republic produces five tobacco types and 21 varieties, including Dominican Olor, Havanensis, and Criollo. There are 160 tobacco-processing companies across 15 provinces, yielding over 330,000 quintals of tobacco each year. Key production areas include Santiago, Valverde, and Monte Cristi.