Cuba stockpiling?

[daverave999]

I'd heard rumours that Cuba has been building up a stockpile of cigars the last few years, perhaps in anticipation of relations with the US thawing.

This popped up on Twitter a while back and I forgot to post it here:

http://www.cigarcyclopedia.com/news-views/cigar-news/2021-odd-counting-in-cuba

Are these odd figures due to the stockpiling? Thoughts?

[Big_T_UK]

Heard the rumour myself but nothing more then that, a rumour. Couple of people I know may know more, I will ask when and if I get the chance.

[Deano]

Yeh this rumour is probably the oldest rumour I know about Cuban's. I suspect we'll never know until the US resume trading.

[monkey66]

I would suggest with the current Republican vito resumption of trade is a long way off.

[Big_T_UK]

Thank god for that.

[Drewmidorn]

There is a train of thought that the end of the embargo (which may not happen) won't make as much difference as we think. I have heard that more cuban cigars get into to the U.S. than we Brits (and by that I include all our none U.S. comrades) might imagine so what will mostly change is the route of the cigars and not the numbers, at least not as heavily as we might think.

I am only saying this with reference to the fear that the stock levels/quality of the cuban cigars in the "sane" world and Britain (with it's EMS) will drop. I am not passing comment or making any judgement with regards to the information I am passing on and cannot for the life of me imagine how Cuban Cigars would arrive in the states where I believe they are illegal.

I am however suggesting that the U.S. is not a sane country and that Britain is a little un-hinged and all the more delightful for it.

D

[Deano]

Unless you live in the Chicago area...

[JOAO LA PEZ]

I had a conversation about cigars with my brother who spends a lot of time in California playing golf every year, he reckons that smoking is becoming rather frowned upon and there are substantially fewer shops selling tobacco products (cigars) than even 5 years ago.

[nicwing]

Last year we heard that there was another reduction in the area under production.
With the government laying off a huge number of workers I think it's highly unlikely that they have the money to invest in stock piles of cigars.

I think it's more likely they are busy making Behikes because they are hot and sell real quick at a high price.

If anything I expect they would want the distributors to increase their stock holding on the basis that they would pay ready money and could take a punt if/when the embargo ends.

[cbob]

Speaking of "oldest rumours": one of the ones that my friends in the USA are fond of repeating whenever possible is the one about Cuba adding imported tobacco from Nicaragua or Honduras to their puro blends.
My response (like Nic's) was always that it was "highly unlikely that they have the money" to import tobacco when they can barely afford fertilizer or diesel for the tractors.
And why would they contaminate their classic taste anyway?

But this recent news bit has me worried:

From IPS Cuba

HAVANA, Jan. 10 ? Cuba will import black and blond tobacco, as well as rice, from Ecuador, among other products that traditionally did not form part of the bilateral trade exchange, the Foreign Ministry of the Andean nation reported. Both countries signed an economic protocol that establishes tariff preferences for hundreds of products.

Now I know that Cuba has always imported "American Brand" cigarettes (Ex. Camels) from 2rd party nations-the 'blond' tobacco noted above- but it's the mention of 'black tobacco' that has me worried.
Could the myth be coming true?
What would they be using this 'black tobacco' for? I still can't imagine them importing tobacco for domestic black tobacco cigarettes (Ex. H. Upmann) when they can grow all they need in Matanzas.
Be worried. be very worried.
.

[PoohBore]

It's one thing agreeing tariffs for import duties but it doesn't mean they will import the product. Please let me be right on this one....

[seanbeer]

bloody hell, if the news is true, i think we should be stockpiling up ourselves then!

or all left would be montecrsto opens

[patrickspark]

than we Brits (and by that I include all our none U.S. comrades)

thank you

I am however suggesting that the U.S. is not a sane country and that Britain is a little un-hinged and all the more delightful for it.

D

true !

[Puff Scotty]

Just a few of my thoughts...
Embargo won't end in the foreseeable future.
Tourism must now be a huge economic factor in Cuba.
Cuban cigar manufacturers must know using Equadorian tobacco would damage their reputation beyond repair.
The USA , a vast market, are narrowing the gap between home grown & Cuban.
For every one CC purist I should think perhaps 100 others not so, 'bothered' for want of a better word.
It's not in the Cuban interest to stockpile.
Demand for Cuban Cigars is up again this year so has the Cuban Government really laid off more growers or are they becoming more efficient?

I for one won't be panic buying because of a rumour, but there again I don't buy many regional or yearly releases because they are hyped by marketing & peer pressure rather than quality...

Only time will tell! (smashing cliche that!)

[monkey66]

b i think we should be stockpiling up ourselves then!s

...been trying for a few years