Sales of world-famous Cuban cigars have risen globally according to Imperial Tobacco, a British company that markets the cigars worldwide. The company said that the increase in sales has proved to be a welcome surprise, especially given the economic challenges in Spain, which is the largest market for Cuban cigars. Growth outside the EU was also strong, particularly in China where sales rose 16%.

The core brands like Cohiba showed especially strong growth, as consumers responded positively to new offerings and limited editions introduced by the brand. Imperial Tobacco said they see the greatest potential for growth in luxury handmade Cuban cigar brands in emerging markets, including China, Russia, Brazil and the Middle East. These markets are already generating much higher growth rates of up to 20%, compared with flat growth rates in more developed countries.