The Cigar Association of America announced that La Aurora USA has joined the national trade body. La Aurora USA is the U.S. distribution arm of La Aurora, the Dominican Republic’s oldest cigar factory, founded in 1903, and manages sales and marketing of brands including La Aurora 1903, Preferidos 1903, ADN Dominicano, 107 and León Jimenes. CAA President Scott Pearce welcomed the company’s membership, citing its role in strengthening the association’s advocacy and industry data programs, while La Aurora USA CEO Ed McKenna said joining CAA will support collaboration across both premium and mass-market cigar segments.
Tag: Cigar Association of America
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U.S. Cigar Imports Up 4.6% in 2025
Handmade cigar imports to the United States continue to rise, according to new data released this week by the Cigar Association of America (CAA), signaling sustained growth in the premium cigar market. Imports for the first three quarters of 2025 totaled 318.6 million cigars, a 4.6% increase compared with the same period in 2024, according to Cigar Aficionado.
Nicaragua remained the dominant supplier, accounting for 190.4 million cigars, up 2.1% year over year. The Dominican Republic followed with 69.9 million cigars, a 3.8% increase, while Honduras recorded the fastest growth among the top producers, with shipments jumping 14.8% to 55.5 million cigars. Together, the three countries accounted for more than 99% of all handmade cigar imports.
The largest monthly surge occurred in March, when imports rose 29% compared with March 2024, following the announcement of the Trump administration’s “Liberation Day” tariffs affecting cigar-producing countries. In 2024, U.S. imports reached 430 million handmade cigars, up 0.9% from 2023. If current trends hold, 2025 is on pace to mark the fifth consecutive year with more than 400 million handmade cigars imported into the U.S.
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CAA Elects Terry Gallagher as New Chairman
The Cigar Association of America (CAA) announced that Terry Gallagher, Jr., president of Smoker Friendly tobacco outlets, has been elected chairman of the association, succeeding Javier Estades. Gallagher, Jr. brings decades of experience in the premium cigar and tobacco sectors and assumes leadership as the association continues its advocacy and industry-support efforts.
CAA president Scott Pearce praised Estades for his nine years of service, during which the association strengthened federal and state advocacy, expanded policymaker engagement, and became a leading voice on tobacco issues. Estades will remain on the Board.
The Board also elected new officers: Eric Newman (Vice Chair), Carrie Freed (Treasurer), and Henry Roemer (Secretary). Gallagher, Jr. emphasized collaboration with the leadership team to advance cigar-specific regulation, protect adult consumers, and preserve the heritage of premium cigars.
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CAA Reports U.S. Cigar Imports Down 8.7%
The Cigar Association of America (CAA) reported the U.S. imported 48.4 million premium cigars in the first two months of 2025, an 8.7% decrease from the previous year. The decline was not due to tariffs, which were announced in April, but are believed to be part of the ever-adjusting post-pandemic market.
The three major cigar exporters all saw declines, with the Dominican Republic down 4.1%, Nicaragua (which accounts for more than half of the market) down 9.3%, and Honduras down 19.3%. Those three producers account for 99% of handmade, premium cigar shipments to the United States.
“January’s imports are typically anemic compared to the other 11 months of the year, oftentimes less than half of some of the peak import numbers that occur in the second half of the calendar,” Charlie Minato wrote for Halfwheel. “While imports have cooled off from their peak in 2020-2022, the U.S. imported 430 million premium cigars in 2024, up more than 90 million units compared to pre-pandemic levels.”
According to the CAA, the market increased from 338 million handmade cigars in 2019 to 465 million in 2022.
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U.S. Premium Cigar Imports Top 430M
The Cigar Association of America (CAA) released its annual report today, indicating that U.S. imports of handmade, premium cigars rose 0.9% last year, going from 426.3 million in 2023 to 430 million in 2024. It appears that the pandemic created a second cigar boom, as imports have exceeded 400 million units for four years in a row, a 27% increase from 2019’s 338 million cigars. The market has cooled slightly, however, from its record years of 2021 and 2022, where imports were 453.9 million and 464.5 million, respectively.
Nicaragua accounts for 58.8% of U.S. cigars, shipping 253.1 million cigars in 2024, a 2.7% increase over the previous year. The Dominican Republic shipped 106 million cigars, a 1.8% decrease from 2023, followed by Honduras’ 67.4 million cigars, a 3.3% increase. Those three countries account for 99% of the U.S. cigar supply.
Costa Rica saw a 44.9% jump in the number of cigars it sends to the U.S., and at 2.5 million units is the only other producer to top the 1 million mark.
The CAA generates this data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Customs Services, and from cigar companies themselves. The numbers include estimates that remove large, machine-made cigars from the premium category.
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Cigar Group to Reach Out at Party Gatherings
The Premium Cigar Association (PCA), in collaboration with the Cigar Association of America (CAA) and Drew Estate Cigars, will be holding outreach events in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 16, 2024, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. during the Republican National Convention, and in Chicago, Illinois, on August 20, 2024, also from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. during the Democratic National Convention.“This will be an exciting time for the Milwaukee area, and our small businesses are ready to greet convention attendees during this special event and throughout convention week. We look forward to partnering with the PCA, CAA, and Drew Estate to unite people,” said Paul Groh, owner of Metro Cigars and PCA Executive Board member.
The upcoming events will take place at PCA member locations: Metro Cigars Germantown in Wisconsin and Up Down Cigar in Chicago. These events will gather elected officials, candidates, and political figures from all over the country. Each event aims to bring together more than 100 people for social discussions on important issues, all while enjoying premium cigars.
“It is important that the premium cigar industry has a presence at these key political events, and it is exciting to host an event for both parties at PCA member locations to showcase the essence of specialty tobacco retailing,” says Joshua Habursky, interim executive director/head of Government Affairs for the PCA.
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Pearce to Lead Cigar Association of America
Photo: GIS Scott Pearce will leave his position as executive director of the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) and join the Cigar Association of America (CAA) as that organization’s new president.
“Scott is uniquely positioned to grow and bring innovative lobbying and advocacy to CAA. His depth of experience working in industry and trade groups and his most recent experience with PCA provides CAA a leader who is prepared to take on the difficult issues our association faces.” said Chris Howard, CAA board member and chair of CAA’s committee that sought out its new president.
Pearce has over 20 years of experience working in associations with a strong track record of driving growth and implementing innovative strategies.
His last day with the PCA, which Pearce led since 2018, will be May 24, 2024. In the interim, Deputy Executive Director Joshua Habursky will fill the vacancy and oversee operations in coordination with PCA’s executive committee and board of directors.
“We are grateful for Scott’s time at PCA that saw transformative positive changes for the association from advocacy to trade show and especially grateful that he was able to work with us to hire an incredible team that will have a lasting legacy even after he leaves the organization,” said PCA Board President Scott Regina in a statement.
“With change comes opportunity,” said Habursky. “Scott was part of a team of staff and a board of directors that resurrected an organization that faced tough times during the pandemic. The association is in a strong position and will continue to be the advocacy leader for premium cigars, host its world-class trade show, and grow all facets of its membership with our existing team.”
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Ozgo Steps Down as Cigar Group President
Photo: Pcess609 David Ozgo is moving on from his position as president of the Cigar Association of America (CAA).
In a statement, the CAA acknowledged Ozgo’s committed service to the association.
“In his time at CAA he modernized the association’s public relations and social media capability,” the organization wrote on its website. “His op-eds and interviews have been valuable in communicating industry positions. Additionally, his hard work brought in several new members. We wish David all the luck on his next venture.”
CAA’s board of directors will be embarking on a search for new executive leadership.
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FDA Appeals Premium Cigar Ruling
Photo: poco_bw The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Jan. 31 appealed an August 2023 court ruling vacating the agency’s decision to regulate premium cigars, reports Halfwheel.
The court ruling stemmed from a lawsuit filed by the Cigar Association of America, the Cigar Rights of America and the Premium Cigar Association (PCA).
In 2022, Judge Amit Mehta issued an opinion examining the rulemaking record and detailing the FDA’s failure to address evidence in the record showing that premium cigars have different usage patterns, with different resulting health effects, than other cigars. Mehta later ruled that the FDA’s mishandling of significant questions that the FDA itself asked in its proposed rule merited vacating it, as the FDA never made a nonarbitrary decision to regulate premium cigars.
In its appeal, the FDA urges the court to elevate deference to the agency’s “scientific judgment” over its duty of explanation under the Administrative Procedure Act. The FDA also argues that Mehta should have sent the flawed rule back to the agency to fix it while allowing the FDA to continue regulating premium cigar retailers and manufacturers under the arbitrary rule in the meantime.
In a statement, the PCA said it would be responding to the FDA’s arguments and defending Mehta’s opinion in a forthcoming filing with the D.C. Circuit Court. A hearing before three judges of the appellate court is likely to follow.
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QI Rejoins Cigar Association of America
Photo: Tobacco Reporter archive Quality Importers Trading Co. (QI) has rejoined the Cigar Association of America (CAA) after over a decade absence.
CAA President David Ozgo stated, “Quality Importers Trading Co. is one of the world’s leading suppliers of the highest quality cigar accessories and accoutrement to the cigar trade. It is an honor and a privilege to be able [to] represent them as we advance sound public policies for the cigar sector in Washington, D.C., and the states.”
Founded 24 years ago by Mike Giordano and based in Weston, Florida, USA, Quality Importers Trading Co. is a B2B product innovator, importer, distributor and representative to a network of manufacturers across the world, specializing in the areas of wooden ware, plastic injection molding, metal stamping and product packaging. QI’s core distribution businesses reside in cigar storage and packaging, home organization and warehouse packaging supplies.
“Quality Importers products are used by premium cigar smokers worldwide, and it is important to us to continue to actively support the premium cigar industry,” said QI President and Chief Operating Officer Alex Goldman said. “I have worked with the CAA on and off since 1998 and have always valued the professionalism and level of support the organization provides. I am proud that QI has joined CAA as a supporting member and look forward to deepening our ties with the association and its member companies.”
CAA is the leading national trade association representing manufacturers, distributors, importers, suppliers and all channels of retailers in the cigar industry and traces its roots back to the 1890s.