Cuba reports cigar sales up 2 percent last year

Cuba reports cigar sales up 2 percent last year
HAVANA

Cuban officials say cigar sales rebounded slightly in 2010 after
plummeting the previous year amid the global economic crisis.

Government-run tobacco company Habanos SA says sales were $368 million
last year, a rise of 2 percent. That followed an 8 percent drop in 2009.

Habanos vice president Javier Terres said Monday that the company is
"moderately satisfied."

Terres said the top buyers of the premium, hand-rolled Cuban cigars were
Spain, France and China -- which replaced Germany as the third-biggest
importer.

Habanos is a mixed company comprising British-owned, Madrid-based
Altadis and Cuban state-run firm Cubatabaco.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9LHB4700.htm