How much is Cuba’s fuel shortage affecting Canadian cigar stores? Turns out, quite a bit

Since the American intrusion of republic of venezuela in jan, oil colour exports to republic of cuba have come to a standstill. 

It means life is becoming increasingly difficult, with shortages of fuel and food, and the tourism industry withering away.

These issues are having a ripple effect on cigar stores here in Canada. It's perfect storm of multiple factors for Cuban cigar aficionados.

There's the energy shortage, but also natural disasters and an increase in the global demand for cigars.

All of these things have led to a shortage of fresh Cubans.

Jay Henderson owns La Casa Del Habano, a Cuban cigar store in downtown Windsor, Ont. 

He hasn’t received a shipment since last December — even before the U.S. Occupation.

“Most of the distributors of Cuban cigars globally have informed their customers that they're on a rationing system. Everybody has to make do with what we've got left here.”  

Henderson compared the long pause to the pandemic, but admits he doesn’t think it’s sustainable indefinitely.

“We [Canada] can't get there — turn around, refuel and come back because there's no fuel on the island. The Canadian government basically told Canadians that if you go down to Cuba and you get stuck there, don't call us. We told you not to do it. So you better start swimming.”

The federal government has advised Canadians to avoid non-essential travel to Cuba, warning against planning a winter escape on the popular Caribbean island because of worsening shortages of everything from fuel to food.

Under his franchise agreement, Henderson is supposed to only sell Cuban cigars and promote Cuban products. 

“If you have a real Cuban cigar, despite whatever you have preconceived about how it’s going to be, if you're a cigar smoker … you're going to notice … there's something magical going on. The complexity, the depth of the flavour, the burn, the aroma. It's just unique.”

Sheldon Lloyd Smith is the president of the Cigar Association of Canada, a grassroots national non-profit group established to support retailers and industry stakeholders.

He says the premium cigar industry has been facing supply pressures globally over the past several years, with the current fuel shortages in Cuba adding further stress to an already “constrained system.”

“Tobacco must be transported from farms to curing barns, workers must travel to factories, and finished cigars must move through export channels,” said Lloyd Smith. 

“When fuel availability becomes limited, those logistical steps can slow down production and delay shipments.”

Lloyd Smith says there has been significant labour shortages within the industry in Cuba.

“Factory floors that once had roughly 400 cigar rollers working at a time may now be operating with closer to 80, reflecting workforce challenges affecting parts of the industry,” he added.

“Premium cigars are handmade agricultural products produced in limited quantities. The tobacco used in these cigars is typically aged for several years before it is used in manufacturing, and the cigars themselves often continue to age after they are rolled.”

According to Lloyd Smith, specialty cigar retailers are receiving smaller allocations and less frequent shipments than they historically have, reflecting broader global supply conditions rather than a single isolated event.

“Several Canadian retailers have also indicated that Cuban cigars are becoming increasingly difficult to keep on shelves.” 

There is also speculation within the global cigar industry, says Lloyd Smith, that if the United States were ever to reopen its market to Cuban cigars, global demand could increase significantly. 

“Some retailers are beginning to shift more attention toward premium New World cigars produced in countries such as the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua, which currently have greater capacity to respond to rising global demand.”

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