The ouster of Batista on 1 January 1959 and the Cuban Revolution led by Castro became another legendary milestone in Cuban history. In order to overthrow the dictatorship Batista, Caschu organized the revolutionary organization 726 Movement and began to carry out an anti-government revolutionary movement, which lasted for six years and finally won the victory of the revolutionary army led by Cascu on January 1, 1959.
Castro
After the takeover of Cuba, Castro urgently needed to reorganize the country's economy, and cigars, as a representative export of the country, naturally became the target of the Cuban government's intervention. At this point, Cuba nationalized the cigar industry of the entire country, and we can look at the impact of the policy at that time, which has partly continued to this day, in the following ways:
Nationalization and centralized management
The Cuban Revolution, led by Caschu, led to the nationalization and centralization of the cigar industry by the state. The production and sale of cigars became an important economic resource of the country, which was directly managed and controlled by the government. This led to the centralization of the Cuban cigar market and also limited the participation of private business.
Castro
Quality & Consistency
Under government control, the quality and consistency of the Cuban cigar industry has received more attention and management. The government invests in tobacco cultivation, manufacturing processes, and branding, and is committed to ensuring the high quality and consistency of Cuban cigars in order to maintain their reputation in the global market.
Supply and circulation
The Cuban government has adopted a series of measures to control the supply and circulation of cigars in order to maintain price stability and ensure the availability of products. This includes restrictions on the number of exports, a franchisee system and price controls. Friends who have studied appearance must know that this has caused a great obstacle to export.
Cuba
Global market position
From this point of view, the Cuban government has also chosen the right product.
Despite the relatively low production of cigars in Cuba, Cuban cigars still enjoy a high reputation and status in the global market due to their high quality and unique taste. The Cuban government has maintained the position of Cuban cigars in the global cigar market by controlling quality, restricting supply and marketing.
Geopolitical implications
Cuban cigars, as an important export product of Cuba, are also affected by geopolitical factors. Due to the trade and travel restrictions imposed by the United States on Cuba, Cuban cigars are subject to certain restrictions and influences in the American market. However, Cuban cigars remain firmly in the market position in other regions, especially in Europe and Asia.
The United States and Cuba are at odds with each other
Since the beginning of hostility with the United States, diplomatic relations between the two countries have taken a sharp turn for the worse. In February 1962, then-U.S. President John F. Kennedy signed Proclamation 3447, officially known as Executive Order 3447, which imposed an embargo on trade between the United States and Cuba.
Prior to the executive order, it was legal for Americans to buy Cuban cigars (the United States was the largest consumer market for cigars at the time). Since Cuba is known for its high-quality cigars, many Americans could easily buy Cuban cigars before then. However, with the implementation of this executive order, Americans can no longer legally buy or import Cuban cigars (and of course smuggling cigars are prevalent).
Kennedy
This executive order is an important indicator of the deterioration of relations between the United States and Cuba and plays an important role in United States policy towards Cuba. It led to a long-term economic blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba and became one of the nuclei of United States policy towards Cuba. At this point, Cuba has officially bid farewell to the United States, the largest consumer market!
However, President Kennedy was a cigar lover!
Kennedy, however, signed the resolution only after he had purchased 1,000 of his favorite Upman cigars. It can also be seen how much Americans liked Cuban cigars at that time, especially the high-level of political and business circles, and basically could not do without cigars for work and leisure.
Successor - Cuban Tobacco Company
The government of Caschu established the Cuban Tobacco Company and stopped the export of more than 100 brands and controlled cigars throughout the country, leaving only 25 cigar brands, at which time many important figures in the Cuban cigar industry left the island. The most notable include Nestor Plasencia, José Orlando Padrón and Angel Oliva.
Most of them settled in Nicaragua, Honduras or the Dominican Republic. The owners of well-known brands such as Montecristo, Upman or Partagas have also fled the island, and some of them have sold their brands to United Cigars or General Cigars.