Current Factory Code and box date

There are two ink-stamps on the bottoms of Habanos boxes.

One is secret code that tells the industry which factory made the cigars.

The other is the month and year when they were made.

The dates are not in code and the year is simple enough.

The system started in 2000 with "00", then "01" and so on.

However, unless you know a little Spanish, the months may need deciphering.

They are:

• ENE_______________(Enero)________________January

• FEB_______________(Febrero)______________February

• MAR______________(Marzo)_______________March

• ABR_______________(Abril)_______________April

• MAY_______________(Mayo)______________May

• JUN________________(Junio)______________June

• JUL________________(Julio)_______________July

• AGO_______________(Agosto)_____________August

• SEP________________(Septiembre)__________September

• OCT_______________(Octubre)____________October

• NOV_______________(Noviembre)__________November

• DIC________________(Diciembre)__________December

2000 - 2003 Factory Codes

• LOC - Carlos Balino - Rey Del Mundo

• EOG, EAR - La Corona

• ECA - H.Upmann

• RPO - H. Del Moncada

• OSU - Partagas

• PEL - Briones ( Romeo Juliet)

• LOME (2000), LQME (2001) - CLE (2003) - EL Laguito - Cohiba

• ARA - J. Cano

• LRL, SLA - Pinar Del Rio

• PUL, URE, UPA, IESC - Holguin

• URL, LES, SUA, CPV, RSE, PUC - Villa Clara

• VCR, DUO, REC, PAS, USP, APE, LUL, CLO, SRA, OVU - S. Espiritus

• CAV, ALV, SSU, VEL, SOL, PAR, SCO, LPE - La Habana

• EOP, LAC, SEL, PUV - Cienfuergos

• ACS, PLO - Granma

• OLA - S de Cuba

In May 2003 Habanos S.A. changed factory codes again. Here's some known codes:-

• GKI - Francisco Pérez Germán - Partagás

• LLN - José Martí - H. Upmann

• KMM - Briones Montoto - Romeo y Julieta

• MKO - El Laguito - Cohiba

• FRH - Miguel Fernandez Roig - La Corona

 

Format and Samples
The new Date Codes are five digits: XXXYY
The first three digits "XXX" represent the month portion of the code while the last two digits "YY" represent the year.

Example	Decoded
ENE00	January 2000
NOV02	November 2002
ABR00	April 2000
DIC04	December 2004

Some historical facts:

• pre-revolutionary boxes stamps: "MADE IN HAVANA-CUBA"

• In 1961 it was changed to: "HECHO EN CUBA"

• In 1985 date codes were introduced 

• In 1985-1995 an "iron" in the form of a tobacco leaf was introduced above Cubatobacco

• In 1989 the stamp "Totalmente a Mano" introduced

• In 1994 Cubatabaco logo was replaced by Habanos S.A. logo

Original Factory Codes

             Havana Factories

• BM - Briones Montoto - Romeo y Julieta

• CB - Carlos Balino - El Rey del Mundo

• EH - El Habanero

• EL - El Laguito - Cohiba

• FL/PL/PO - Por Larranaga

• FPG - Francisco Perez German - Partagas

• FR - Miguel Fernandez Roig - La Corona

• HM - Heroes de Moncada - Jose Peidra

• JCS - Juan Cano Sainz - Por Larranaga

• JM - Jose Marti - H. Upmann

   

  Provincial Factories

• CFG - Cienfuegos

• CFGS - Cienfuegos (factory in Cienfuegos)

• FD/PR - Francisco Donantien (factory in Pinar del Rio)

• LV - Las Villas

• PR - Francisco Donatien (factory in Pinar del Rio)

• RD - Ricardo Donatien (factory in Pinar del Rio)

• SS - Sancti Spiritus (factory in Sancti Spiritus)

• TLP - Lazaro Pena (factories in San Antonio)

• TTB - Granma (factory in Bayamo)

• TTH - Holguin (factory in Holguin)

• VC - Villa Clara

• VSC - Villa Santa Clara (factory in Santa Clara)

If you did not find a factory code you were looking for, have a look at: