Tobacco production increases 21% in Cuba's main planting region

Tobacco output in Pinar del Rio province, Cuba's most important tobacco planting region, increased by 21 percent year on year, local media reported on Saturday.

"The Pinar del Rio tobacco workers harvested 16,204 tons of tobacco leaves, 21 percent more than in 2014", said Enrique Cruz, director of tobacco production in Pinar del Rio, quoted by the state-run newspaper "Granma".

Lying in the western tip of the country, the province is considered the best land worldwide for growing tobacco, providing most of the fine leaves used for manufacturing the famous hand-made Habano "Premium" cigars which generate significant profits for the country as exports.

Tobacco plantations generally flourish in Pinar del Rio, thanks to a relative humidity of 79 percent and an average temperature of 25 degrees Celsius, as well as rainfall characteristics.

Cigars are one of Cuba's most exported items and the main markets are Spain, France and China, besides another 146 countries and regions.