SPECIAL STUDY ON CIGAR TOBACCO 



A Report of a Study Group of the 

 U. S. Department of Agriculture 



Economic and Statistical Analysis Division 

 Economic Research Service 



SUMMARY 



Over 7 billion cigars (including cigarillos) "with a retail value close 

 to $650 million are sold annually in the United States. Approximately ■• 

 men smoke cigars every day and 9 million more are occasional cigar smokers . 



In recent years, cigar output has required about 135 million pour, 

 of tobacco (unstemmed weight) annually. Cuba has been the source of arc 

 31 million pounds or nearly one-fourth of this tobacco. Most of the tobacco 

 imported from Cuba is used for cigar filler. Because of its unique flavor and 

 aroma, Cuban tobacco has long occupied an important place among cigar tobac : 

 used in this country. The cost of Cuban tobacco to U. S. manufacturers, as 

 measured by its average import price plus import duties, is indicative : 

 uniqueness in terms of user demand. This cost averages considerably higher 

 than prices for most U. S. and other foreign types of tobacco. Our imports of 

 Cuban tobacco for consumption during the year ended June 30 , 19Sl, had a 

 declared value of $25 million, not including the duties, which totaled about a 

 additional §k million. 



All except about a half of 1 percent of the cigars sold in the United 

 States are produced in factories in this country and Puerto Rico. There is a 

 wide diversity in the cigars produced --many sizes, shapes, brands, and price 

 lines --and they are composed of numerous combinations of different 

 tobacco. Because of this variety and the characteristics of the data av 

 it is not possible to make precise estimates of the various categori 

 and of the utilization of the numerous individual types of tobaccc It 



is possible, however, to present some approximate figures that aid in ui 

 standing some of the results of the unavailability of Cuban tobacco to the 

 United States. Approximate figures on the use of various typer- 

 are shown in statistical tables in this report. 



In a typical recent year, about h .J billion 

 total sold—contained Cuban tobacco. Around 6j0 million of t 

 entirely of Cuban or predominantly Cuban tobacco; they we: 

 (100 percent Cuban tobacco) and the "Havana filler" cigars (1 



nearly 100 percent Cuban tobacco, but not 1 :-e- 



dominantly Cuban tobacco cigars used about U5 p< 

 imported. The other 55 percent was used in al 

 cigars (including cigarillos). In I Cuban 

 varying proportion of the blend, but mostly from 20 to nt. 



