U.S. Cigar Imports Through September 2025: Volume Down, Premiums Hold Their Ground
Through September 2025, U.S. cigar import data point to a market still adjusting after the post-pandemic surge, now further shaped by tariffs, rising labor and production costs, and shifting consumer demand. While overall large cigar volumes remain below last year’s levels, underlying trends suggest a market increasingly driven by product mix and value rather than sheer unit growth.
| U.S. Imports | 2025 YTD | 2024 YTD | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Large Cigars | 5.70B | 6.33B | (630M) | -10.0% |
| Little Cigars | 180.7M | 143.2M | 37.5M | 26.2% |
Large Cigars: Volume Pressure Continues, but the Decline Slows
Total U.S. large cigar imports declined 10.0% year over year through September. Volume losses remain concentrated in lower-priced, mass-market HTS categories that account for the majority of total units. These segments appear most affected by inventory normalization and tariff-related cost pressures, where price sensitivity is highest.
Notably, September data indicate that the pace of decline has moderated compared with earlier months, suggesting that the market may be finding a new equilibrium as elevated inventories work through the system.
Price Mix Shifts Upward
Despite overall volume declines, the composition of large cigar imports continues to move higher on the price spectrum. Lower-priced categories are contracting, mid-tier segments remain under pressure, and higher-value categories are steadily gaining share. This shift reflects both cost-driven pricing adjustments within the mass market and sustained consumer demand for premium products.
The result is a large cigar market that is smaller in unit terms but increasingly weighted toward higher-value products.
Large Cigar Imports (Lower HTS Codes)
Large Cigar Imports (Higher HTS Codes)
Premium Large Cigars: Quiet Strength
Estimated premium large cigar imports increased 4.5% year to date, standing in contrast to the broader decline in total large cigar volumes. Premium cigars represent only about 5% of total large cigar import units, yet their economic impact is significantly larger. Based on estimated retail pricing and unit volumes, premium large cigars are estimated to account for a mid-teens share of total retail cigar sales dollars, with some analyses suggesting the share may approach 20%.
| Country of Origin | 2025 YTD | 2024 YTD | Change | % Change | 2025 YTD | 2024 YTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $ VALUE PER 1,000 CIGARS | ||||||
| Nicaragua | 190,396 | 186,508 | 3,888 | 2% | $1,400 | $1,409 |
| Dominican Republic* | 83,188 | 90,524 | (7,336) | -8% | N/A | N/A |
| Honduras | 55,451 | 48,297 | 7,154 | 15% | $1,344 | $1,310 |
| Costa Rica | 2,460 | 2,025 | 435 | 21% | $1,243 | $1,187 |
| Philippines | 140 | 375 | (235) | -63% | $697 | $293 |
| Mexico | 32 | 79 | (47) | -59% | $2,258 | $2,769 |
| Panama | 14 | 20 | (6) | -30% | $973 | $527 |
| Bahamas | 4 | 5 | (1) | -20% | $840 | $1,289 |
| TOTAL | 331,685 | 327,833 | 3,852 | 1% | ||
Quarterly trends from 2019 through 2025 reinforce the durability of premium demand, with consistent growth across key producing countries—led by Nicaragua, followed by the Dominican Republic and Honduras.
Quarterly of Estimated Imported Premium Large Cigars 2019 - 2025
Little Cigars: One of the Few Growth Areas
Little cigar imports continue to stand out as a bright spot in the import landscape. Through September 2025, little cigar imports increased 26.0% year to date, with growth spread across filtered and machine-made, 100% tobacco products. The Dominican Republic remains the leading source of increased shipments, followed by Honduras and Spain.
Little Cigar Imports 2019 - 2025
Little Cigar Imports 2019 - 2025
What Changed in September
September reinforced the defining themes of 2025 rather than reversing them. Mass-market large cigars remain under pressure, while higher-value and premium segments continue to gain share. Tariffs and cost pressures appear to be accelerating the shift away from lower-priced products, even as demand for premium cigars remains resilient.
Bottom Line
As the industry moves into the final quarter of 2025, U.S. cigar imports reflect a market increasingly shaped by pricing, product mix, and value. Mass-market cigars still drive total units, but premium large cigars and little cigars are playing a growing role in defining market direction. Volume may be down, but the premium segment continues to hold its ground—and expand its influence—within the broader cigar import market.
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