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CUBAN CURING BARNS HIT BY GUSTAV

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Plus: New products from Habanos, S.A.

Los Angeles, September 5 – A thorough report received from on-site sources about the impact of Hurricane Gustav on tobacco production in Cuba reveals that while there was significant damage, the situation could have been much worse than it turned out to be.

The report noted that no deaths were attributed to Gustav, but there was extensive destruction:

Gustav hammered the western part of Cuba, primarily the Pinar del Rio province, the most important farming region for cigar tobacco.

More than 3,000 curing barns were damaged and many of the roofs were destroyed. Happily, none of the barns in the San Juan y Martinez or San Luis area were impacted, but those in and near the Vinales Valley were hit hard.

Very little damage was reported to barns where wrapper leaf has been curing. However, many barns in which binder and filler leaf were curing were hit by the storm and the torrent of water drenched these leaves. One estimate suggested that about 900 tons of cigar leaf was waterlogged, but that almost all of it can be saved simply by drying it. That process will take from 6-10 weeks, but is dependent on the weather; more harsh weather is apparently on the way.

Repair efforts began immediately and if there are no more problems, the planting season should be unaffected. Work on the seed beds for the 2009 crop is continuing; the farm of legendary grower Alejandro Robaina was reported to be only lightly touched.

In Havana, there was relatively little damage, although winds reached more than 90 miles per hour and utilities were disrupted.

Information from western Cuba indicated that more than 100,000 homes were partially or totally destroyed in Pinar del Rio and on the Isle of Youth (Isla de la Juventud) and 370 schools were damaged.

For growers, the question now is about the future. Long-range forecasts indicate that additional storms are likely later in September and into October, which would begin to interfere with planting. At present, Hurricane Hanna appears to have bypassed Cuba, but Hurricane Ike, just behind it, could pose a new threat.

Lots of new products from Habanos, S.A.

While damage from Gustav is being assessed, the distribution firm for all Havana cigars, Habanos, S.A., announced a series of new products coming to market:

Of great interest to lovers of large cigars is the introduction of the Partagas Salomones (pictured on the home page).

This thick perfecto will now be part of the regular Partagas production line, albeit in limited quantities and is initially scheduled to be sold only in Casa del Habano locations in boxes of 10. These cigars are offered with a special, second band marking them for the Casas only.

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“Alfred Dunhill opened his first shop in 1893, his first tobacco shop in London in 1907 and the New York store in 1923.