Known throughout the world cigars suffered from the global economic crisis. International financial magnates tightened their belts, abandoning the traditional Cohibas and Montecristo, which were indispensable attribute of top management.
According to the publication of The Times, in 2008, there was a drop in demand for cigars at 3 per cent, and this year - another 15 percent. The areas involved under tobacco cultivation in 2009 decreased by almost a third.
Despite the economic blockade of Cuba by the United States, cigars strong lead in the premium segment, taking it market share of at least 70 percent. Their popularity is confirmed by the figures cited by the expert James Suckling. According to him, every year, U.S. residents consumed 20 million Havana cigars. Their entry into the United States is illegally or through international mediation companies. Price for this match. Thus, the Hong Kong company Cigars of Habanos, specializing in the supply of tobacco in the U.S., a box of cigars Cohiba Esplendidos of 25 pieces sells at the price of 495 dollars.
Canadian Specialist James Mi said that supporters of cigars began to economize by buying cheaper varieties and reducing the consumption of premium cigar brands. Cigar clubs are using production Dominican Republic cigars, which are made from tobacco grown from seeds from Cuba.
However, according to some experts, the economic crisis will not significantly impact on the producers of cigars. Johnny Berman, owner of the store cigars Sautter in the British capital, confirmed that within 3 months experienced a decline in sales by 20 percent, but currently the volume returned to its previous level. Among the clients store a lot of tourists from the U.S. who benefit from buying cigarettes in the UK.
Vyacheslav Kirsanov, the owner of the brand "Kirsanov Collection" in an interview for BFM.ru, said that in the United States dropped the demand for cigars is not too noticeable, but the U.S. share of world markets has fallen from 75 to 60 percent. The European market in the premium segment was a more complicated situation. Thus, in "Kirsanov Collection" sales in Russia since the fall of last year fell by 50 percent.
Meanwhile, manufacturers from other countries such as Nicaragua, take this opportunity to grab market share and increase the tobacco plantations. Vyacheslav Kirsanov predicts that the basic consumption of premium cigars will soon shift to South-East Asia, where luxury goods market is in a stage of active growth.
