Share of illegal cigarettes in Russia reaches 10.7%, half of which of Belarusian origin - research by Kantar TNS

<p> MINSK, April 28 - PrimePress. The share of illicit cigarettes in Russia reached 10.7% in January-March of 2021. About a half of that illicit stock are products of Belarusian origin. If the current volume of illegal cigarettes market is sustained, the Russian federal budget might lose about RUB100 billion in 2021, according to a study of the Russian tobacco market done by Kantar TNS. </p> <p>   </p> <p> The research data is given in the report by the largest tobacco companies - Philip Morris International (PMI), British American Tobacco (BAT), Japan Tobacco International (JTI) and Imperial Tobacco. </p> <p>   </p> <p> “The share of illegal cigarettes in Russia reached 10.7% in the first quarter of 2021, according to the results of a tobacco market analysis conducted by Kantar TNS,” Prime reports quoting the report. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Supplies from abroad are still the main driver of the market of illegal cigarettes in Russia, with the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) being their main source. And almost half of all illegal cigarettes sold in Russia, according to Kantar TNS, are of Belarusian origin. </p> <p>   </p> <p> "The imbalance in excise duty rates, especially intensifying amid the start-of-the-year 20% increase in Russia, essentially encourages illegal imports,” explained Igor Cherkassky, head of BAT Russia’s unit for fighting illicit tobacco trade. End </p>

2021-04-29

Primepress