President Luis Abinader visited the Arturo Fuente “La Milagrosa” tobacco farm in Monte Plata on Tuesday, 17 March 2026. The visit focused on the advanced technology being used by the Arturo Fuente company to produce high-quality “capa” (wrapper) leaves, with the goal of replicating this model in other regions of the Dominican Republic.
President Abinader was accompanied by chairman Carlos Fuente and CEO Ciro Cascella. The President emphasized that the “La Milagrosa” model is a benchmark for the industry, specifically for the production of the “capa,” the finest and most expensive leaf used in premium cigars. The government cited the Fuente model as the “gold standard” it seeks to replicate across other provinces to improve leaf quality and export value.
It is important to distinguish between “premium” and “machine-made” cigars. While the DR exports over 8.4 billion units total (mostly machine-made), Arturo Fuente operates exclusively in the high-value premium sector, which generates the vast majority of the industry’s global prestige and a significant portion of its dollar value. Since the United States accounts for around 88% of Dominican premium exports, Fuente’s strong presence in American retail remains the primary driver of its export volume.
The official press release from the Presidency and reporting from major outlets like Diario Libre and El Día highlight the following details:
• Investment: The project involves an investment exceeding RD$350 million.
• Scale: The plantation covers approximately 1,000 tareas.
• Technology: The farm utilizes modern irrigation and precise fertilization systems, powered by solar energy. It includes six high-capacity curing barns (ranches).
• Employment: The initiative generates about 400 direct jobs in the Monte Plata community.
Strategic importance
During the tour, the director of the National Tobacco Institute (Intabaco), Iván Hernández, noted that the tobacco sector currently contributes US$1.38 billion in foreign exchange and supports 40,000 jobs in free zones, 62% of which are held by women.
The tobacco industry is a cornerstone of the Dominican economy, often referred to as a “national heritage” (officially declared so in 2022). Its importance is defined by record-breaking exports, its role as a leading employer, and its deep-rooted cultural identity as the world’s top producer of premium cigars.
Economic impact and exports
As of late 2025 and early 2026, tobacco has solidified its position as one of the country’s top three exports, trailing only gold and medical instruments.
Global dominance: The DR remains the world’s leading exporter of cigars. It produces over 8.4 billion units annually including cigarettes and machine-made cigars, of which approximately 182 million are premium, hand-rolled cigars destined for high-end markets.
Market concentration: The United States remains the primary destination, receiving roughly 88% of premium exports, followed by the European Union (10%).
The market share of Arturo Fuente within the Dominican Republic’s cigar export sector is significant, particularly in the premium (handmade) segment. While the Dominican government does not typically release a company-by-company percentage of total exports, we can calculate their approximate share based on 2024–2025 production and export data.
Arturo Fuente’s estimated market share
Arturo Fuente is one of the “Big Three” premium cigar producers in the country, alongside Davidoff and Tabacalera de García (Altadis USA).
Production Volume: Arturo Fuente produces approximately 30 million cigars annually, all of which are handmade in their Santiago-based factories.
National Premium Output: In 2024 and 2025, the Dominican Republic reported an annual production of approximately 182 million premium (handmade) cigars.
Estimated Share: Based on these figures, Arturo Fuente accounts for approximately 16.5% of the total volume of premium cigars exported from the Dominican Republic.
Read more in Spanish:
Presidency
Arturo Fuente
19 March 2026