Domestic Cigarette Output to Meet 93% of Demand

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. 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.