Domestic Cigarette Output to Meet 93% of Demand

EghtesadOnline: Iran’s cigarette production is expected to meet 93% of domestic demand by the end of the current Iranian year (March 20, 2018), up from the current 83%, the head of Tobacco Planning and Supervision Center, Ali Asghar Ramzi, said.

News ID: ۷۸۰۵۹۸

25 November 2017

Latest statistics show Iran produced 27.2 billion cigarettes in the first seven months of the current fiscal year (started March 21), indicating an 18% rise year-on-year. Imports reduced by 44% to stand at 1.8 billion during the same period, IRNA reported. Ramzi expects imports to be cut by 50% by the yearend YOY to reach 2 billion. Smuggling is also rife in Iran’s cigarette market. About 7.8 billion cigarettes were smuggled into Iran during the seven months, 35% fewer than last year’s corresponding period, according to Financial Tribune.