Habanos S.A. Says Storm Won’t Affect Production

Habanos S.A. has done an evaluation of the damage caused by Tropical Storm Andrea to the prime tobacco growing region of Pinar del Río region and doesn’t believe it will affect production in either 2013 or 2014.

Daymi Difurniao, Director of Marketing Operations for Habanos S.A., said that after analyzing the situation, “we can say that tobacco production was not as much affected; the raw material for the habanos were not affected at all. So, up to now there won’t be problem to keep on with the 2013 tobacco production, nor in 2014.”

The storm hit Western Cuba on Wed., June 5, and a report in the Miami Herald noted that the more than 12 inches of rain that fell in the region “destroyed tons of warehoused tobacco leaves and flooded farms.” The article cited a report from the regional El Guerrillero newspaper that put the totals at 86 tons of tobacco leaves in addition to the collapse of seven curing warehouses. The Cuban paper also noted that some 71 curing houses suffered roof damage.

Hirochi Robaina, arguably the most well-known farmer in Cuba, said that “indeed, the rain was so much, but I secured my tobacco with no problem.” He did note that the reports of others having problems due to the storm is real, though wasn’t able to elaborate into specifics.