One of the biggest news stories coming straight out of InterTabac 2026, Tabacalera El Artista has announced it signed an international cigar cooperation agreement with China Tobacco, establishing a partnership focused on cigar development, manufacturing and international distribution.
The agreement was formally signed during InterTabac 2026 in Dortmund, Germany, where the partners also unveiled the Taishan · Artista cigar project.
The project features two cigars sharing the same blend but produced in two countries. A Toro will be manufactured in the Dominican Republic by Tabacalera El Artista, while a Pyramid will be manufactured in China at China Tobacco Shandong’s Jinan factory.
The blend was developed in China by Radhames Rodriguez of Tabacalera El Artista in collaboration with China Tobacco Shandong’s blending team, using tobaccos supplied exclusively by Tabacalera El Artista. The project combines Tabacalera El Artista’s tobacco and cigar-manufacturing expertise with China Tobacco’s production capabilities and extensive access to the Chinese and Asian markets.
INTERNATIONAL ROLLOUT
The Taishan · Artista project is scheduled to make its commercial debut in Hong Kong and Macau in December 2026, with distribution in those markets overseen by CTIHK.
The project is expected to expand to China Duty Free locations in mainland China in Spring 2027, followed by China Duty Free locations throughout the Asia-Pacific region and the mainland China domestic market in Summer 2027.
The Dominican-made Toro is also planned for release in the Americas and Europe in late Spring 2027, where distribution will be handled by TCD Logistics and Tobacco & Cigar Distribution.
A COLLABORATION BETWEEN TWO TRADITIONAL TOBACCO GIANTS
The cooperation establishes a framework for continued collaboration in cigar development, tobacco, manufacturing, technical exchange and international market development.
For Tabacalera El Artista, the agreement represents an expansion of the Dominican manufacturer’s longstanding work with international cigar companies and markets. The project allows the factory to contribute its tobacco resources, blending knowledge and manufacturing experience to a collaboration that extends from product development through production and international commercialization.
For China Tobacco, the partnership brings together its domestic production and market capabilities with the tobacco and manufacturing expertise of an established Dominican cigar producer. The cooperation also creates a platform for further technical exchange, product development and the expansion of the Taishan cigar project into international markets.
The Taishan · Artista project is the first cigar initiative resulting from the cooperation.