Cigarette smuggling recorded a growth of 22.8% in September. It was the largest monthly growth seen in the last two years, and it was due to the difference between the price of cigarettes in the local market and the price in the neighboring countries.

The black market’s share in the total cigarette market rose from 14.9% to 18.3%, according to the latest data of the Novel Research company. The average share of the black market in the last five years was about 15%.

In Bucharest, a package of cigarettes costs RON 15 lei (EUR 3.3) whereas in Kiev (Ukraine) the price is RON 2.8-3 (EUR 0.6). The main source of illegal cigarettes is Ukraine, with a share of 16.9% on the illegal market, followed by the Republic of Moldova, with a share of 12.4%.

editor@romania-insider.com