Manufacturers stocked up on tax stamps in December 2012, which could explain part of the decline, the ‘paper surmised. The sharp drop in the number of shops where cigarettes can be purchased since the government introduced a state monopoly on retail tobacco sales may be another reason, it added.
Napi Gazdaság estimated that imported tobacco now accounts for 10% of all sales in Hungary. It also said sales of shag tobacco, which has lower excise tax content than cigarettes, were up.
Tobacco consumption may also be down, but this is not supported by any statistics, Napi Gazdaság said.
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