Fact from Fiction: What's Happening at the Cigar Factories/Industry in Cuba TODAY?

[El Presidente]

Fact from Fiction: What's Happening at the Cigar Factories/Industry in Cuba TODAY? I

• Which factories are open and operational?
• What % are they operating at? 
• General Habanos production and distribution news. 
• Global supply situation update. 

Many of us here have our contacts in Cuba and elsewhere. Let's pool our resources to get a better idea of what is going on. 

[LaoFan]

I went to Laguito, H. Upmann, and Corona. At least as of last week, they're all open and working.

[mikec]

I spoke with a friend who runs the La Casa in Panama City and he has been waiting for his shipment (already 3 months late) and was told it will be another month at least until he receives the shipment. He can't make a payment on the shipment as the Habanos account is frozen. He also mentioned that he was warned that the price increase will be about 10-15% more than the stock he has left (very little) right now. They are also worried about how the Trump factor may influence future pricing on Habanos shipments. He is a little worried about how much longer he can stay open with the dwindling stock on his shelves. The main factories in Havana are still open as of three days ago being Upmann, El Laguito, La Corona and Partagas. My other friend on the ground who is a Cuban visiting sent me a message yesterday just saying the revolution has begun.

[JohnnyO]

I went by La Corona on Friday and saw a lot of buses (6+) with the Cuba Tabaco logo and a lot of workers onboard. I was told it was for the workers and for the trainers that are going out to the jails to teach/supervise rolling.  

[gormag38]

9 hours ago, JohnnyO said:

I went by La Corona on Friday and saw a lot of buses (6+) with the Cuba Tabaco logo and a lot of workers onboard. I was told it was for the workers and for the trainers that are going out to the jails to teach/supervise rolling.  

This is insane to me if actually true. I would be curious to know some of the true numbers/percentages of cigars being rolled at jails/prisons. It seems like a good way to produce cigars w/o paying rollers a living wage. Regardless, what a joke that they market this as a 'luxury' item. Yet they are being produced by prisoners with little to no skill/interest in the job. 

[WestCoastSmokin]

6 hours ago, gormag38 said:

This is insane to me if actually true. I would be curious to know some of the true numbers/percentages of cigars being rolled at jails/prisons. It seems like a good way to produce cigars w/o paying rollers a living wage. Regardless, what a joke that they market this as a 'luxury' item. Yet they are being produced by prisoners with little to no skill/interest in the job. 

Also, I wonder how long has this been going on for? It wouldn’t surprise me if this has been going on for 2-3 years now. 

[gormag38]

18 hours ago, WestCoastSmokin said:

Also, I wonder how long has this been going on for? It wouldn’t surprise me if this has been going on for 2-3 years now.  

That would be excellent information to have. It seems like since the pandemic the rolling rooms have had just as many flipped up chairs as they have rollers. (Hell, maybe even more empty chairs!) I also know that the yields have not been 'great' since then as well...maybe these factors contributed to them training prisoners to roll? 🤷‍♂️

[Shakey]

52 minutes ago, gormag38 said:

That would be excellent information to have. It seems like since the pandemic the rolling rooms have had just as many flipped up chairs as they have rollers. (Hell, maybe even more empty chairs!) I also know that the yields have not been 'great' since then as well...maybe due to this they had no need to try and train prisoners to roll? 🤷‍♂️

It is really odd that people are questioning if production in prisons is happening. Habanos S.A. and Tabacuba have said on the record that cigars are being rolled in prisons. Here is a link to the press release from Habanos: https://halfwheel.com/habanos-s-a-confirms-prison-labors-are-rolling-cuban-cigars/454965/

[gormag38]

15 hours ago, Shakey said:

It is really odd that people are questioning if production in prisons is happening. Habanos S.A. and Tabacuba have said on the record that cigars are being rolled in prisons.

I don't think anyone here is questioning the prison production. Instead; How long has the prison production been happening? How long have they been filling up buses of rollers to train at said prisons? I'd be curious to know if any boots on the ground could give better information in regards to this. 

[El Presidente]

Keep it on topic lads. 

Plenty of other threads to discuss general Cuban news/politics/thoughts. 

 

 What's Happening at the Cigar Factories/Industry in Cuba TODAY?

 

 

[LizardGizmo]

Despite my disbelief - up until the blackout - I continue to be told that the Havana mother factories are working - corroborating what others have said. The folks at the Havana factories have issues getting to work here and there, but overall they are doing their best to stay on task. These same folks have said that the provincial factories are struggling to operate but it’s hearsay.

I can’t imagine that will be the case any longer, but I said that six months ago. My odds-making on this issue have not been very good!

[NYGuido]

8 hours ago, LizardGizmo said:

Despite my disbelief - up until the blackout - I continue to be told that the Havana mother factories are working - corroborating what others have said. The folks at the Havana factories have issues getting to work here and there, but overall they are doing their best to stay on task. These same folks have said that the provincial factories are struggling to operate but it’s hearsay.

I can’t imagine that will be the case any longer, but I said that six months ago. My odds-making on this issue have not been very good!

As true as this all likely is, I’m of the same opinion you and the guys had on the pod a week or so ago: people struggling to meet basic needs don’t have the mental bandwidth to do their jobs particularly well. Even if they’re getting to work, how “in the game” are these rollers? How can they focus when their families including children don’t have food? And how great will the product be when it likely has to be rushed out to make money for the government as its only viable export?

I’ll be staying away from 2026 boxes most likely. 

[Boss Hog]

On 3/17/2026 at 10:45 PM, NYGuido said:

I’ll be staying away from 2026 boxes most likely. 

You and me both, my fellow brother.

[canadianbeaver]

Incredible article from Halfwheel above @Shakey thank you. The reference about many prisoners rolling cigars is for local market. Interesting!

“Furthermore, while mareva is a name for a vitola, it is not an active Cuban export brand. There are brands, like El Coloso, that are made in Cuba but only sold domestically for Cubans to purchase. It’s possible that mareva is one of those brands.”

CB

[puromaniac]

I met a lovely roller at La Corona a few years ago and we've become friends. Like many other rollers, she was hit with one of the viruses that have thinned out the workers. She is back working now. We both just hope tourism starts again. Good for Cubans like her, and tourists like me.

[puromaniac]

And...La Corona factory now shut down, due to lack of water and electricity. Sigh. No one can catch a break.