There are 70 cigar factories in the country that produce close to 5,000 brands, and the sales they make to the U.S. surpassing the sales made in that country by companies from the Dominican Republic and Honduras.
Figures from the Cigar Association of America indicate that in 2018 Nicaragua exported 140 million cigars to the North American country, a figure surpassing the 95 million sold by companies in the Dominican Republic and the 75 million exported by Honduras. However, the goal of the Nicaraguan industry is to gain a greater presence in Europe, a market that until now has been dominated by products from Cuba.
Despite Nicaragua's political and economic crisis, tobacco exports in 2018 totaled $222 million, 10% more than in 2017.
Statistics from the Central Bank of Nicaragua (BCN) show that between 2017 and 2018 sales abroad under the free trade zone regime increased by $20 million, from $202 million to $222 million.
In the department of Estelí, the main producing area, the price of land has risen, driven by increasing demand for areas in which to grow tobacco plants.
In 2013 cigar exports generated revenues in excess of $200 million and production achieved a 18% growth compared to the previous year, reflecting the good performance of the tobacco industry in the country.
Projections are of $159 million in exports by the 25 companies that make up the Nicaraguan tobacco industry.
Commercial and financial entities expect tobacco sales abroad to increase, with supply which includes world class cigars.
Prensa-latina.cu reports: "Central Bank calculations and the Directorate General of Customs Services state that industry sales (including the operations of those in free zones) could represent 4% of national exports in 2013."
After exporting 120 million cigars in 2012, Nicaraguan tobacco companies aim to reach 150 million units in sales in 2013.
If the sale goal is achieved, Nicaragua will have positioned itself as the leading exporter of cigars, removing the Dominican Republic from the top position.
An article in Lavozdelsandinismo.com reports that Fredman Torrez, a member of the Association of Nicaraguan Cigar Makers, said that "in 2011 102 million units were sold abroad, in 2012 120 million were exported and this year its is predicted that 150 million cigars will be sold abroad. "
The goal proposed by producers for 2014 is to sell to the rest of the world 150 million cigars, replacing the Dominican Republic as the number one global exporter.
The secretary of the Association of Nicaraguan Cigar makers, Leonel Raudez, said exports have grown rapidly, from 16 million in 1996 to 102 million in 2011. This figure means that the country displaces Honduras as the largest exporter in the region.
This economic activity generated $95 million in 2012 and has shown sustained growth in recent years.
In 2011, sales of Nicaraguan cigars -102 million units, totaled $95 million. The U.S. is the main market, where 95% of production goes.
In Nicaragua there are 25 cigar factories that create 15,000 direct jobs and 22,000 indirect jobs, mostly in the northern region, mainly in Esteli, said the secretary of the Nicaraguan Cigar Association, Leonel Raúdez to Laprensa.com.ni.
Growing external demand is boosting an industry that contributed more than $100 million to the country's 2010 GDP.
The north of the country is one of the zone that has seen the benefits of a growth in tobacco exports. New jobs have been created and regional governments are planning, together with businesses, to
create centers of development for the offspring of company collaborators.