Written By Scott Miller
For Bennington Tobacconist
Known in Spanish as the “Republica Domincana”. The second largest island in the Caribbean. Cuba is the largest. Dominica, as its tenderly nicknamed by its citizens, sits between the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean to the southeast. It occupies approximately 2/3 of the island of “Hispaniola” (Haiti occupies the western third) and was “discovered” by Christopher Columbus in 1492. It was actually found and occupied by the “Taino” Indians long before his arrival.
In1990, 27,011 hectares, or 2.7% of arable land, were used for growing tobacco. From 1990 to 1992, an average of 19,000 tons of tobacco were produced annually, equivalent to 0.3% of the world total. In each of these 3 years Dominica produced an average of 4,500 million cigarettes, close to 0.1% of worlds consumption. Exporting 50 million annually. Cigar production was 206 tons, of which 195 tons were for export. In 1993, export earnings from tobacco was US$19.5 million. Imports of raw tobacco totaled US$9 million, valued at 0.4% of all import costs. Tobacco production generally produces a positive balance of trade for the Dominican Republic. In 1990, revenue from tobacco was 2.3% of the GNP.
Today Dominica is one of the worlds leading tobacco growers. This was not the case 35 years ago when they grew a very small percentage used around the worlds. The reason is it’s ideal climate year round and it’s soil. Almost identical to Cuba, nestled among mountains, the Cibao River Valley is the ideal area for growing and producing tobacco. This area is home to many factories, Davidoff, A. Fuente, Montecristo, etc. And Santiago it’s largest city.
Piloto Cubano and Olor are the two main filler tobaccos. The seed were smuggled out of Cuba during the revolution. These leaves are the closest
to its Cuban counterparts, or descendents. Again because of climate and soil.
The cigar boom in the early 90’s propelled the growth of the Dominican Republic dramatically. With the popularity of cigars rising dramatically, it revitalized an important business segment in one of the oldest countries in the New World. It helped elevate international prestige of the island nation along with providing new markets for its premium cigars.
With its wide variety of resources, pristine beaches on two oceans to rugged mountains, tropical forests, fertile valley, a diverse culture and history dating back to Christopher Columbus, Dominica is a treasure trove.
Today we talk of 250 million cigars being exported in 1997, generating more than US$200 million for an industry employing some 10,000 growers and cultivate & process and transport the tobacco leaf, as well as providing additional services.
With America’s premium-cigar smoking “boom” of the mid-1990 now gone, and overall consumption cut in half, Dominican producers must ensure more than ever not to lose market leadership to it’s fierce rivals in Honduras, Nicaragua and Mexico. The focus on quality is the legacy of the boom in quantity.
Despite all the aftershocks, the 1990’s cigar madness left the Dominican Republic cigar makers yearn for the good old 90’s, they are also happy with today’s premium market, albeit diminished, is still almost triple of what it was before the boom.
Dominicans claim their cigars are better than Cuba’s, but Cuba has the renown – and that is what has them nervous. In Europe Cuba sells 100 million cigars against Dominica’s 25 million. The Dominicans, who fled Cuba with seeds & their brand names, protected their position in the U.S. by registering such fabled names as Montecristo & Partagas. Making a legal battle necessary if Cuba wants to enter the U.S. market. Some believe that Cuba would avoid the issue by simple creating new brands. Others say that the novelty of Cuban cigars would pique Americans’ interest in cigars in general.
The future of cigars, Dominican or otherwise, is unsure and unwritten. Only time will tell if the industry will bear up under the world economy and the loosening restrictions on international trade.
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