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The transportation crisis to Cuba began to have consequences beyond the island. One of the largest distributors of cigars in the world announced that it will apply a surcharge of 6.5% on all its orders due to the increased costs of getting Cuban cigars out of the country.
The measure was adopted by Phoenicia T.A.A. Cyprus Ltd., distributor of Habanos S.A. products in more than 50 countries across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, according to the specialized publication Halfwheel.
In a statement sent to its customers, the company explained that the reduction in maritime traffic to Cuba has forced it to resort to air transport, a much more expensive and limited capacity option.
"This option has significant limitations, such as the limited availability of flights and substantially higher transportation costs, which can exceed 15% of the value of imported cigars. Given these exceptional circumstances, we believe it is necessary to pass on some of these additional costs," the company stated.
The surcharge came into effect on June 23 and will be applied separately to all offers and orders, rather than being included in the price of each product. Phoenicia assured that this is a temporary measure and will be removed once maritime services to the island are restored.
The decision reflects the deterioration of Cuban logistics, worsened in 2026 by the reduction of maritime and air connections with the country.
In maritime transport, international shipping companies such as Hapag-Lloyd and CMA CGM suspended their operations with Cuba, while the restrictions imposed by the United States on companies linked to GAESA, the business conglomerate controlled by the Armed Forces, also affected the movement of goods to the island.
In addition, there is the crisis in air transportation. This year, more than a dozen airlines suspended their flights to Cuba due, among other factors, to the shortage of aviation fuel, significantly reducing the available cargo capacity.
Logistical difficulties are occurring at a particularly sensitive time for the Cuban tobacco industry. By March, supply issues for cigars in Canada were already being reported and the 2026 International Cigar Festival was canceled.
Despite this scenario, Habanos S.A. continues to be one of the main sources of foreign currency income for the Cuban regime. In 2024, the company achieved record sales of 827 million dollars, with Europe as its most important market, accounting for 55% of global revenue.
Phoenicia is the exclusive distributor of Habanos S.A. in Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Turkey, Ukraine, and most of the African continent. This decision represents one of the first visible effects of the Cuban logistical crisis on the international distribution chain of premium tobacco and shows that the difficulties in transporting goods from the island are already starting to impact international markets.
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