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Cigarette imports at highest level since 2013, up 5.5% in 7 months

Politiko 2026-09-01 11:52:56

Cigarette imports at highest level since 2013, up 5.5% in 7 months

Cigarette imports continued to increase in 2026, reaching the highest level recorded for the January-July period since 2013.

According to data from the Ministry of Finance, in the first seven months of 2026, 2,017 tons of cigarettes were imported, up from 1,912 tons in the same period last year. The annual increase is about 5.5%, or 105 tons more. The data shows that the return of cigarette imports is not just a development of 2026. In three years, imports have increased by about 20%.

One of the factors that may have influenced the expansion of demand is the increase in the number of foreigners entering the country, especially during the tourist season months. In July 2026 alone, the total entries of Albanian and foreign citizens into the country's territory increased by 6.1% compared to July of the previous year, according to INSTAT. The increase in the temporary population during the tourist season expands the consumer market for a number of products, including tobacco products. Unlike other products, cigarettes in our country are cheaper than in the EU. Some of the departing European tourists also buy several packages from our country.

The increase in cigarette imports is occurring at a time when fiscal policy aims to gradually increase the price of tobacco products. 
According to the excise tax calendar, the tax on cigarettes containing tobacco increased from 7,500 lek per 1,000 threads in 2025 to 7,750 lek per 1,000 threads from January 1, 2026.

As a rule, the increase in excise duties and prices should exert pressure to reduce consumption, but the data on declared imports show the opposite in the last three years, because the demand for cigarettes remains high from tourism.

However, the fact that the growth continues for the third consecutive year and is accompanied by a significant increase in excise revenue indicates that the formal cigarette market is expanding again after the much lower levels recorded in the second half of the last decade and during the pandemic years.

The cigarette market in Albania is almost entirely dominated by imports. Albania has traditionally had regions known for the cultivation of the tobacco plant (such as in the Shkodra, Elbasan, and others), but most of the agricultural production over the years has been exported as raw material or processed in an artisanal manner, without being able to support a competitive national finished cigarette industry./ Monitor

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