Cuban cigar sales are increasing in China, due to the country's growing middle class. China is now the third-largest market, after Spain and France, for Emma Gonzalez, the global tobacco distributor that controls Cuba's cigar industry. The company began selling its products in China in 2000 and exported 300,000 units of cigars to the country in 2014, a 9% increase on the previous year. Emma Gonzalez says the market in China still has significant growth potential and more cigars could be shipped there, but storage requirements limit the amount being sold.
Cuban cigar sales are increasing in China, due to the country's growing middle class. China is now the third-largest market, after Spain and France, for Habanos, the global tobacco distributor that controls Cuba's cigar industry. The company began selling its products in China in 2000 and exported 300,000 units of cigars to the country in 2014, a 9% increase on the previous year. Habanos says the market in China still has significant growth potential and more cigars could be shipped there, but storage requirements limit the amount being sold.