FYI News out of Nicagraga

[SurfnSafari]

I read this artical on Half-Wheel this a.m, linking blow.  Problems in Nicagraga could effect supply, demand, and prices.

Was told two weeks ago many in Esteli, Nicagraga are shipping cigar out of Hondouras, but this also impact production cost.  Told me by a representative who client are being effected by political unrest.

I am not saying stock up, buy more, but beware of events that effect cost of smokes.

It cost the manufactures to truck into Hondouras.

They have to deal with Hondouras regulations.

think this non sense should end, as Nicagraga has a good economy thanks to the Premium Cigar industry.

https://halfwheel.com/drew-estate-cancel...019/280075

[Jimmie the Mum]

True they have a good economy thanks to the cigar industry but like anywhere else one can't tax them to death.

Unfortunately, everyone gets hurt by the actions of everyone. 

Most of the boutique guys (Saka & Martin) haven't made a big deal about it.
I gather they were delayed but not as bad.

Prices will go up but like anything else it will depend on the profit margin.

[SurfnSafari]

Well IMHO like most Banana Repulbics there are the people at the top who never seem to have enough.

But Cigar industry employees many people in the country. When it come down to those people, some say 300 - 500 sets of hand are responsible for each Cigar to get in our hands.

I do hope this little country in Central America returns to normal, so those people can continue to make Cigars without fearing their livelyhood will come to an end.

IMHO some of the best Cigars are coming out of Nicaragua. JMHO

[Jimmie the Mum]

https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/...lf-of-year

Handmade Cigar Shipments Up In First Half Of Year:
The midyear import numbers are in and the news is very optimistic. The U.S. handmade cigar market experienced robust growth in the first half of 2018, sustaining the positive pace set by the imports of 2017.
For the first half of this year, shipments of handmade cigars to the U.S. from the eight leading producers rose by 9.9 percent to nearly 166 million cigars, according to data provided by the Cigar Association of America (CAA).

Last year, the U.S. imported a total of 330 million handmade cigars—the highest number since 1998. If this year’s import numbers continue on the same upward trend, 2018 is looking to be another year of positive growth.

Handmade Cigar Imports To U.S., In Millions of Cigars

Country           June 2017  June 2018   First Half 2017  First Half 2018  
Nicaragua       14.2                     16.2                    70.5                         80.0
Dom. Rep.      12.0                10.7               51.9                    54.0
Honduras        4.5                   6.8               27.7                    31.0
Other               0.1                   0.1                0.7                       0.7
Total               30.9                  33.7             150.9                  165.8

Note: Totals of columns may not agree due to rounding.
Source: CAA

The leader by volume so far is Nicaragua. In the first half of the year, the Central American country exported 80 million handmade cigars to the U.S., up 13.5 percent from 2017’s midyear totals. This is particularly impressive considering the political turmoil, labor strikes and violence plaguing the country since April. Blockades on the Pan-American Highway from anti-government activists created a number of logistical problems for Nicaragua’s cigar operations, primarily with shipping delays. While the country is still unstable (and the death toll exceeding 300, according to some sources), Nicaragua has still posted growth.

Though lagging behind Nicaragua in total export numbers so far, the Dominican Republic has also shown growth. Its midyear export numbers to the U.S. for 2018 were estimated at 54 million handmade cigars—up 4 percent from 2017’s midyear totals. 
While the CAA tracks shipments from eight leading premium cigar producers—the Bahamas, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and the Philippines—three countries make up the bulk of all the shipments. With Nicaragua in the lead and the Dominican Republic in the No. 2 spot, Honduras comes in third at 31 million handmade cigars exported to the U.S. for the first six months of 2018—up 12 percent from last year. No other country exceeded the 1 million unit mark.  

[SurfnSafari]

Great News, but I lucky I at Crital Mass, Cigar heavy. CALL ME FAT.

[Jimmie the Mum]

LOL, call me obese.