The director of the Dominican Tobacco Institute (Intabaco) Juan Francisco Caraballo said that tobacco exports continue to increase. He said in 2017 exports were US$846 million. Exports of cigars to markets in the United States and Europe were more than 6.5 billion units. He said that the number of cigars exported has increased every year since 2012 by 10 to 15% per year. He recalled in 2012, exports were only of 1,773 million cigar units. He said the increase is attributed to the demand that values the quality of Dominican cigars.
He announced new tobacco leaf farming areas have been opened in the province of San Juan de la Maguana, where 4,000 tareas (1 tarea = 629 sq mts) are being planted. Also in Elías Piña provinc, on the border with Haiti, another 4,500 tareas are being planted. In Monte Plata, in the center of the country, an area with 1,000 tareas has been habilitated.
Caraballo said that this year, some 60,000 tareas of the variety Havanensis will be planted; 20,000 of Olor, 2,000 of Burley and 5,000 for capa, in addition to 31,500 of criollo for hojas y andullos, for an overall production of 213,300 quintals of the product.
17 October 2018
