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The fuel crisis in Cuba is beginning to be felt outside the island: specialty stores in Canada are reporting difficulties in receiving new shipments of Cuban cigars due to the energy and logistical problems facing the country.
According to a report published by Radio Canada, several distributors and retailers have warned that cigars are arriving less frequently and in smaller quantities, which is causing shortages in some stores.
Jay Henderson, owner of the La Casa del Habano store in Windsor, Ontario, stated that his business has not received a shipment since December and that the situation could continue for some time.
The merchant explained that international distributors have begun to implement rationing systems due to production and export difficulties from the island.
Sector specialists indicate that the lack of fuel affects the entire tobacco production chain in Cuba, despite the regime's recent announcement of the introduction of solar energy in the sector.
The transportation of tobacco from the farms, the transfer of workers to the factories, and the shipment of finished products rely on a logistics system that is now facing significant limitations.
Sheldon Lloyd Smith, president of the Cigar Association of Canada, explained that the premium cigar industry had already been facing global pressures in recent years, and that the current energy crisis in Cuba has exacerbated the problem.
Other factors contribute to this, such as natural disasters, the increase in global demand for cigars, and labor issues within the Cuban tobacco industry.
According to industry data, factories that previously operated with around 400 workers now function with about 80, reflecting the challenges in maintaining production.
In light of this situation, some Canadian merchants are starting to offer premium cigars more frequently, produced in countries like the Dominican Republic or Nicaragua, which currently have a greater capacity to meet international demand.
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