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The largest cigar company in the world is Imperial Brands, with a revenue of $41.691 billion.
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As of 2026, the global cigar industry has a market size of $14.5 billion.
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Every year, over 16 billion cigars are sold worldwide.
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The global cigar market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.5% through 2030.
In recent years, cigars have regained traction among younger consumers in many regions, reversing a trend that had persisted for decades. This resurgence is largely attributed to various factors, including rising taxes on traditional cigarettes, which have pushed consumers toward cigars and other tobacco alternatives.
Additionally, companies are increasingly targeting diverse demographics, including women, which has further stimulated demand for cigars.
This article explores the 11 largest cigar companies in the world, providing insights into the current state of the industry and its ongoing transformation.
THE 11 LARGEST CIGAR COMPANIES IN THE WORLD
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Imperial Brands. England, UK
2022 Revenue: $41.691 billion
Imperial Brands plc, previously known as Imperial Tobacco Group plc, stands as the largest manufacturer of cigars globally.
The company employs over 32,000 individuals, operates 51 factories worldwide, and achieves significant sales in over 160 countries.
Altadis USA, a subsidiary of Imperial Brands, controls more than half of the U.S. market for Cuban cigars. Imperial Brands also owns a diverse portfolio of well-known cigar brands through its various subsidiaries.
The substantial revenue gap between Imperial Brands and its competitors can be attributed to its extensive involvement in the broader tobacco industry.
While many cigar companies focus solely on cigars, Imperial generates a majority of its revenue from cigarettes, which supports its cigar segment.
This involvement in the cigarette market enables Imperial to buy tobacco in larger quantities, establish more factories, and foster relationships with distributors globally.
Notable cigar brands under Imperial include Montecristo, Trinidad, and Romeo y Julieta.
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Eastern Co SAE. Cairo, Egypt
2022 Revenue: $931.24 million
Known as Eastern Tobacco Company, Eastern Co SAE is the leading producer of cigars and cigarettes in Egypt, also manufacturing pipe tobacco, cigarette filters, and molasses tobacco.
The company operates through two divisions focused on domestic and international sales.
The local division produces top-selling cigar brands in Egypt, including Corona, Legation, and Mondial.
The international division distributes popular brands like Golden West, Cleopatra, and Taba.
Additionally, Eastern Co SAE generates revenue from unrelated sectors, including finance, agriculture, and real estate.
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Swisher. Jacksonville, Florida
2021 Revenue: $2.3 billion
Previously known as Swisher International Inc, Swisher is an American cigar and tobacco manufacturer.
The company markets its products in over 70 countries and produces around two billion cigars annually, primarily from its manufacturing facilities in the Dominican Republic and West Virginia.
Swisher’s flagship brand, Swisher Sweets, is consistently among the best-selling cigar brands worldwide.
In the U.S., Swisher Sweets Original and Swisher Sweets Diamonds are the top two large cigars, with their combined sales surpassing those of the next five best-selling large-cigar brands.
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Swedish Match North America. Stockholm, Sweden
2022 Revenue: $2.11 billion
Swedish Match is a multinational company manufacturing various tobacco products, including cigars, chewing tobacco, and moist snuff.
With over 6,300 employees across 11 countries, its products are sold globally, with the majority originating from the U.S. and Scandinavia.
As of the last report, Swedish Match produced a notable portion of the cigars sold in the U.S., with its manufacturing capacity exceeding three billion cigars annually.
Top-selling brands include Game by Garcia y Vega, White Owl, and Garcia Y Vega.
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Scandinavian Tobacco Group. Copenhagen, Denmark
2021 Revenue: $1.3 billion
Scandinavian Tobacco Group is a significant manufacturer of cigars and pipe tobacco, owning many of the world’s top-selling cigar brands.
The company sells over three billion cigars annually and boasts a diverse brand portfolio with over 200 products, including well-known names like Cohiba, CAO, and Macanudo.
The company achieved its market-leading position through numerous strategic acquisitions.
For instance, acquiring the online catalog and retail business PipesandCigars.com in 2013 enhanced consumer preference for its brands.
In 2018, it acquired Thompson Cigar, expanding its presence in the U.S., and in 2019, it acquired Royal Agio Cigars, consolidating its leading position in Western Europe.
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Altadis USA. Madrid, Spain
Revenue: $1.3 billion
Altadis is a multinational manufacturer of cigars, cigarettes, and other tobacco products, formed through a merger in 1999 between Tabacalera and SEITA, the largest cigar companies in Spain and France, respectively.
Prior to its acquisition by the British company Imperial Brands for over $19 billion, Altadis was the largest cigar producer globally.
Although now a subsidiary, Altadis continues to operate under its own name, with its U.S. division known as Altadis USA.
Altadis controls half of Habanos S.A., Cuba’s state-owned tobacco monopoly, and owns 800-JR Cigar, one of the largest online cigar retailers in the U.S.
Leading brands include Don Diego, Antonio y Cleopatra, and Dutch Masters.
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Oettinger Davidoff AG. Basel, Switzerland
2020 Revenue: $760 million
Oettinger Davidoff AG, commonly known as Davidoff, manufactures premium cigars, cigarettes, and ancillary tobacco products.
Acquired by Imperial Brands in 2006, the company retains its original name due to the popularity of its flagship brand, Davidoff, one of the leading cigar brands worldwide.
Davidoff operates a production facility in Honduras and three factories in the Dominican Republic, sourcing most of its tobacco from independent farms while owning some plantations in Brazil.
Besides Davidoff, the company also manages popular brands such as Camacho, AVO, and Winston Churchill.
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General Cigar Holdings. Richmond, Virginia
2021 Revenue: $628 million
General Cigar Company, a subsidiary of Scandinavian Tobacco Group, is the largest manufacturer of premium cigars worldwide.
Established in 1901, the company gained prominence in the U.S. after acquiring Gradiaz Annis and the Macanudo brand, which remains one of the top-selling cigar brands in the country.
General Cigar also owns the Ramon Allones, CAO, and Cohiba brands, all of which rank among the best-selling premium cigars.
Scandinavian Tobacco Group acquired General Cigar Company in 2016.
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Arturo Fuente. Tampa, Florida
2022 Revenue: $592 million
Arturo Fuente produces the Ashton and Arturo Fuente cigar brands, both of which are international best-sellers.
Founded in 1912, the company focused on local markets until the 1960s, when the U.S. embargo on Cuba prompted a surge in sales of its hand-rolled premium cigars, reminiscent of the now-unobtainable Cuban varieties.
The company has seen steady growth over the decades, with production capabilities exceeding 30 million cigars annually by 2010.
Their product range spans from premium to budget-friendly options, and many cigar aficionados regard the Fuente Fuente Opus X as the company’s flagship offering.
Arturo Fuente collaborates with the J.C. Newman Cigar Company, allowing each company to leverage the other’s manufacturing strengths.
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Boutique Blends Cigars. Jacksonville, Florida
Revenue: $582 million
Previously known as the Habana Cuba Cigar Company, Boutique Blends Cigars specializes in premium hand-rolled cigars.
Founded in 1996 during the U.S. cigar boom, the company was the sole American manufacturer of the popular Cuban “Oliveros” brand.
Besides Oliveros, other popular brands produced by Boutique Blends Cigars include Swag, Aging Room, and King Havano.
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Habanos S.A. Havana, Cuba
2022 Revenue: $545 million
Habanos S.A. is a partially state-owned Cuban company that controls the distribution, promotion, and export of Cuban cigars globally.
Formed from a merger between state-owned Cubatabaco and global cigar giant Altadis, Habanos manufactures popular Cuban brands like Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, and Cohiba.
Habanos S.A. distributes its products worldwide, except to the United States, which has maintained an embargo against Cuba since 1962.
To prevent counterfeiting and control distribution, Habanos selects a single company in each country for exports, such as Hunters & Frankau in the UK and Intertabak in Switzerland.
Cigar Industry FAQ
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What is the largest cigar company in the world?
Imperial Brands is the largest cigar company globally. With a 2022 revenue of $41.691 billion, Imperial Brands leads the market, significantly due to its ownership of numerous smaller cigar companies.
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What is the largest cigar company in the United States?
The largest cigar company in the U.S. is Swisher. With a revenue of $2.3 billion, Swisher holds the title of the largest cigar company in the United States as of 2021.
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Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
