Cuban cigar exports soar amid demand for luxury goods

A gala dinner and auction is held during the 24th Habano Festival, Cuba's international cigar festival, and generates a record amount of 17.8 million euros that will be donated to the island's health system. International sales of Cuban cigars soared 31 percent last year as global demand rises for luxury products, the country's main tobacco exporter said on Monday.

China remained the largest global market for cigar exports, followed by Spain, Switzerland, Germany and the United Kingdom.Cuban tobacco, renowned for being among the best in the world, is one of the island's top export products along with nickel, seafood, vaccines and medical services.