Moroccans Smoked 13.8 Billion Cigarettes in 2016

The Sale of tobacco in Morocco has seen a substantial increase during 2016, reaching 13.8 billion cigarettes and an increase of 9.8 percent compared to the previous year.

2016 was a highly profitable year for tobacco companies in Morocco as the number of cigarettes sold during the year experienced a steep increase over 2015.
According to the Administration of Customs and Indirect Taxes (ADII), Moroccans consumed 13.8 billion cigarettes in 2016, which represents 1.2 billion more cigarettes compared to 2015. The increase is estimated at around 9.8 percent.
This sharp rise in the number of cigarettes sold in 2016 can be explained not only through the increase in the number of smokers especially among youngsters, but also because of measures the state put into fighting smugglers.
 
A survey conducted by the Administration of Customs and Indirect Taxes reveals that the contraband cigarettes dominated 7.46 percent of the Moroccan domestic market in 2016.
 
The survey that pertained to the prevalence of smuggled cigarettes also shows that this rate decreased from 14.02 percent in 2014 to 12.48 percent in 2015.
 
According to official data, there are about 7 million smokers in Morocco, including 500,000 minors, making the kingdom one of the largest consumers of tobacco in the world.

Source :Morocco World News