Retail volume sales of cigars and cigarillos rose in 2024. Despite Romania's challenging economic context and declining purchasing power, this category remained resilient. Its relatively recent development in the Romanian market means there is still considerable room for growth, and its consumer base consists primarily of connoisseurs and affluent individuals who are less impacted by economic pressures. Nevertheless, growth was tempered by increasing health consciousness among consumers and risi

In 2024, the cigar category in Lithuania remained small and largely stagnant, with a stable but limited consumer base and no strong tradition of cigar consumption. Cigars continue to be viewed primarily as a product for occasional use, typically associated with special occasions, or when socialising in cigar clubs. Cigarillos remained significantly larger in volume terms; however, the category experienced a contraction in 2024 following a period of volatility. This decline was driven by the grad

Volume sales of cigars, cigarillos, and smoking tobacco declined sharply in Tunisia in 2024. Smoking tobacco - by far the largest category - experienced a notable reversal of fortunes, following several years of buoyant growth. A key contributor to this trend was the poor performance of Régie Nationale des Tabacs et des Allumettes’ (RNTA’s) local brand 111, launched in 2022 to target pipe and shisha smokers. The product was widely perceived as inferior to imported alternatives, resulting in weak

Cigars, cigarillos, and smoking tobacco is a category which faced the same downwards pressures as cigarettes in Canada in 2024. Within this, smoking tobacco saw the steepest volume decline in 2024, with declines in cigars and cigarillos similar, albeit with cigars slightly worse off than cigarillos. Value sales are also in a decline, albeit at less steep levels.

Smoking prevalence decline continued to take a toll on the performance of cigars and cigarillos in Slovenia in 2024, with volume sales falling. Consumers are increasing safeguarding their health and avoiding smoking. On top of this, Slovenian consumers, known for their frugality, are less interested to smoking cigars as a symbol of wealth. Cigarillos fared even worse than cigars in terms of volume decline, as it has reached a degree of maturity. However, in contrast to the performance of cigars

Cigars and cigarillos represents a shrinking category within Latvia’s broader tobacco market, a trend which continued into 2024. Cigars has seen a steady, albeit modest, decline - reflecting limited consumer appeal, infrequent usage, and a lack of brand innovation. Cigarillos meanwhile, has experienced a sharper downturn in recent years. This has been accelerated by the exit of major manufacturers such as JTI and the implementation of flavour bans, which removed a key point of differentiation fo

Cigars and cigarillos continued to record modest growth in Azerbaijan in 2024, although both categories remain niche. The cigar smoking culture is limited, with cigars generally perceived as luxury items, which restricts their accessibility - especially outside major urban centres - due to relatively high prices. While demand for premium cigarettes is growing, offering consumers a more accessible form of "luxury", cigars and cigarillos retain only a small share of the market. Their growth is fur

Cigars and cigarillos remained a niche product in Uzbekistan, largely due to cultural preferences and affordability issues. Traditional smoking habits in the country are focused on cigarettes, hookahs, nasvay, and, more recently, vaping—particularly among younger consumers. These established patterns leave little room for cigars and cigarillos to gain wider popularity. Additionally, their relatively high prices, combined with limited retail presence and heavy taxation, make them less accessible

Sales of cigars, cigarillos, and smoking tobacco experienced positive volume growth in Uruguay in 2024. Cigarillos benefitted from the appreciation of the Argentine peso, which led to a decline in small-scale contraband from Argentina. Additionally, the increasingly negative social perception of cigarette smokers contributed to some consumers shifting towards cigarillos, which are often viewed as more socially acceptable or sophisticated.

The rate of growth in retail volume sales (sticks) of cigars, cigarillos and smoking tobacco accelerated in Cameroon during 2024. Pipe tobacco drove this increase, as retail volume sales of both cigars and cigarillos continued to decline. Pipe tobacco accounts for the bulk of sales in this category.

Both cigars and cigarillos and smoking tobacco experienced significant retail volume declines in 2024, as consumers continued to grapple with reduced purchasing power amid persistent economic challenges. Although cigars and cigarillos are generally consumed by higher-income groups, price sensitivity still affected demand, with even affluent consumers showing more restraint due to sharp unit price hikes. Nonetheless, the decline in sales was tempered somewhat by a wave of new product launches, in

Volume sales of cigars and cigarillos increased in 2024, with cigars posting the most significant gains in both retail value and volume. Although these products remain niche within Norway, they continue to attract a loyal customer base, particularly among older generations. In contrast, younger adult consumers of legal smoking age tend to prefer vapour products and snus over cigars and cigarillos. The relatively high price point of cigars and cigarillos continues to act as a barrier to entry for

The Swedish market for cigars, cigarillos, and smoking tobacco in Sweden saw a decline in volume terms in 2024, largely driven by a pronounced shift in consumer preferences towards smokeless nicotine alternatives. Growing public awareness of the health risks linked to smoking has prompted many consumers to opt for perceived safety nicotine delivery methods. This shift is further supported by Sweden’s progressive harm reduction policies, which include a 20% tax reduction on snus and a 9% increase

Retail volume sales of cigars and cigarillos in Taiwan saw a strong decrease in 2024, following fast growth in the previous years of the review period. Cuban cigars remained the most in demand products. The category has been negatively affected by global supply chain disruptions, labour shortages and frequent natural disasters in Cuba. which have led to unstable supply levels. However, these issues have gradually improved, and in 2024, supply became more stable, keeping up with domestic demand.

Although cigars and cigarillos posted positive volume growth in 2024, this performance is likely to be temporary. A modest recovery in economic conditions and consumers’ gradual adaptation to wartime realities contributed to short-term demand, with some consumers also choosing to stockpile flavoured products ahead of the mid-year implementation of a flavour ban. Nonetheless, this category remains highly niche, defined by premium positioning and limited to occasional consumption among middle- to

In Pakistan, the cigar market caters to a niche segment primarily composed of affluent consumers residing in urban centres such as Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. These individuals often view cigars as symbols of status and luxury, aligning with their lifestyle and social aspirations. The availability of cigars is predominantly concentrated in high-end retail outlets and specialty tobacconists within these metropolitan areas, reflecting the targeted demographic's preferences. This urban-centric

In 2024, cigars and cigarillos continued to be a niche tobacco product in Ecuador, primarily consumed by tourists or expats. However, there was a slump in tourist numbers in 2024, due to blackouts and security concerns, and this had an adverse impact on cigars and cigarillos, as they are often purchased by travellers, especially in tourist hotspots such as Quito, Guayaquil, and the Galápagos Islands. Volume sales of smoking tobacco continued to be negligible in Ecuador in 2024.

Volume sales of cigars and cigarillos in Estonia recorded a moderate increase in 2024 thanks to the healthy growth of cigarillos. This growth was driven by financial instability among consumers, prompting a shift toward more affordable tobacco options, with cigarillos positioned as cost-effective alternatives. In contrast, economic pressures negatively impacted demand for higher-end cigars, which remained a niche category. Additionally, the rising popularity of alternatives, such as e-cigarettes

Amid high inflation, which limited consumer purchasing power, retail volume sales of cigars, cigarillos and smoking tobacco continued to decline in 2024, albeit at a slower rate than in the previous year. The category remains a niche, as these products are regarded as luxuries by most local consumers. A sharp increase in unit prices pushed these products beyond the reach of many. Prices rose significantly due to the severe depreciation of the local currency, which drove up import costs. This als

Cigars, cigarillos and smoking tobacco in Egypt continued to witness divergent demand trajectories at the end of the review period. In 2024, cigars and cigarillos witnessed further declines in retail volume sales, albeit at a slower pace than in 2023. Meanwhile, smoking tobacco, dominated by pipe tobacco, registered a further moderate increase in retail volume sales in 2024. In general, as a result of economic uncertainty and high inflation, leading to high prices, the demand for cigars and ciga

Cigarillos performed well in 2024 in Peru, with volume sales increasing by nearly a quarter, whereas volume growth for cigars was much more moderate. Cigarillos enjoyed robust volume and current value growth, driven largely by price-fighter brand Café Crème, which continued to lead the cigarillos segment. Café Crème’s appeal is due to is novel appeal, satisfying flavour and favourable prices compared to costlier varieties, as well as compared to more expensive cigars.

In 2024, the cigars and cigarillos category recorded a modest rise in retail volume sales, primarily driven by the increasing popularity of price fighter cigarillos. This growth comes amid a backdrop of declining smoking prevalence and shifting consumer preferences. Standard cigarillos continued to decline in volume terms, impacted by the economic hardship that pushed consumers towards more affordable options. In contrast, low-cost alternatives gained traction, increasingly capturing share from

The market for cigars, cigarillos, and smoking tobacco experienced a decline in volume terms in 2024, contrasting with the positive performance observed throughout the rest of the review period. In previous years, sales benefited from the high prices of cigarettes, with consumers either switching to or supplementing their consumption with these more affordable options, thanks to their tax advantages.

The market for cigars, cigarillos, and smoking tobacco in Poland declined in volume terms in 2024. This downward trend is driven by several factors, including intensified anti-smoking campaigns, rising public awareness of the health risks associated with smoking, and price increases due to higher excise duties.