What colonists benefited the most from mercantilism?

The people who benefited the most in the colonies from mercantilism were cash crop growers, such as cotton, tobacco, and sugar farmers throughout the New World since they had a constant and massive market for their products. A secondary group that benefited indirectly from mercantilism were smugglers since their entire business sprung up as a way to circumvent the mercantilist restrictions on trade. Smuggling was very lucrative.