New Processing Centers for Export Tobacco Inaugurated in Cuba

The new facilities are located in the municipalities of Pinar del Río, San Juan y Martínez, and San Luis, the first of eight to be opened before the end of 2019, to prepare raw tobacco for export

Ronald Suárez Rivas | [email protected]
August 16, 2019 15:08:59
Photo: cubasi.cu

PINAR DEL RÍO.— Three processing centers for export tobacco were inaugurated in this western province with the goal of increasing income from this important crop.

The new facilities are located in the municipalities of Pinar del Río, San Juan y Martínez, and San Luis, the first of eight to be opened before the end of 2019.

Executives of the Tabacuba Enterprise Group explained to the press that this new line of work emerged as a consequence of surplus tobacco not appropriate for the cigar industry, which has been accumulating in warehouses, where a year’s supply for national mechanical production is maintained.

Thus the decision to take advantage of this excess raw material, seeking another destination for it, and generating a source of considerable income.

In the San Luis facility alone, during the remainder of the year, 69 tons of tobacco will be prepared for export, with 200 projected for 2020.

Later in August, another center will be opened in Consolación del Sur, and before the end of December, four more in the province will begin operations, in the vicinity of Viñales, Guane, Mantua and Minas de Matahambre. These facilities are equipped to process on-stem fragmented tobacco leaves, used to produce cigarettes, and are expected to contribute some eight million dollars to the national economy in 2019.

Sales of fragmented raw tobacco will not impact exports of premium hand-rolled cigars, or machine production, which distinguish Cuba’s tobacco industry.