Americans smoked 3.5 billion cigars last year, more than any other
nationality except the Chinese.*
In 1994, there were over 125,000 new cigar smokers in the U.S., with
the majority of these smokers being premium cigar smokers.*
Presently, there are six million cigar smokers in the U.S., of which
approximately one million are premium cigar smokers.*
In 1993, premium cigar imports to the US were at 107 million. In 1994,
these imports rose to 126 million, an increase of 18%.*
As of May 1995, premium cigar imports increased 31.6% from the same
period last year, a growth of 13,546,000 units, and "large cigar" imports
increased 42.4% - a growth of 20,397,000 units.*
Imports of foreign cigars have risen significantly this year in the
United States, by 32% in volume and 45% in dollar value.*
From 1993 to 1994, the largest growing segment of the premium cigar
smokers was the 26-38 year-olds, according to industry sources.
![[IMAGE]](asc.gif)
