Cuba delays annual cigar fair due to severe fuel shortages and blackouts from U.S. oil restrictions.

Havana, Cuba – The highly anticipated annual cigar fair, traditionally held in the last week of February, has been postponed by its organizers due to escalating power outages and significant fuel shortages on the island. These challenges are largely attributed to the ongoing U.S. oil embargo affecting Cuba. Organizers at Habanos S.A., the company responsible for the event, cited the need to maintain the fair’s high standards of quality in their announcement concerning the postponement of this iconic gathering.

Habanos S.A., a joint venture between the state-run company Cubatabaco and the international firm Altadis, holds a monopolistic grip on the global market for Cuban cigars. Each year, the Habanos Festival attracts cigar enthusiasts and stakeholders from around the world, featuring activities such as tours of tobacco plantations, auctions, and exhibitions showcasing the latest advancements in cigar craftsmanship. However, no new date for the 26th edition of the fair has been proposed by the organizers.

The decision to delay the festival marks a significant shift, especially given the successful turnout last year, which culminated in an auction yielding million from the sale of exclusive hand-rolled cigars. Habanos S.A. previously reported record sales of 7 million, underscoring the event’s importance to both the local and international tobacco industries.

The context for the fair’s postponement arises amidst a broader degradation of Cuba’s economic situation, highlighted by severe fuel shortages and frequent power blackouts—the most challenging the nation has faced in recent years. Numerous cultural festivities, including a scheduled book fair, have also been postponed this month, indicating the widespread impact of the current crises.

In late January, former U.S. President Donald Trump intensified pressure on Cuba’s communist government by threatening tariffs on any nation supplying oil to the island. This political maneuvering has further complicated Cuba’s access to energy, with about 60% of its supply typically imported from countries like Venezuela and Mexico.

However, shipments from Venezuela were halted after a controversial U.S. military operation resulted in the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, subsequently leading to tighter American oversight of that nation’s oil industry. Consequently, oil shipments from Mexico ceased in mid-February due to Trump’s tariff threat.

Further exacerbating the situation, several Canadian airlines announced cancellations of flights to Cuba after the Cuban government reported a lack of jet fuel for airport operations. Other airlines maintained their schedules but adapted by refueling in the Dominican Republic en route to Cuba.

As a result of these fuel shortages, the tourism sector of the island has also been affected, with travel agencies canceling trips and the government temporarily closing certain hotels to conserve energy. The state-run tobacco company Tabacuba expressed regret over the fair’s postponement, citing the intricate economic situation facing the nation as a direct result of the intensified U.S. economic blockade.

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