According to newsarab, Hany Aman, the CEO of Eastern Tobacco Company, Egypt’s largest cigarette manufacturer, stated that Egyptians consume around 100 billion cigarettes per year, accounting for about 18% of the country’s population. This amounts to every person in Egypt’s population of 100 million, including men, women, and children, smoking 1,000 cigarettes annually, or three per day.
Demand Soars, Prices Surge
The demand for cigarettes in Egypt has risen sharply, with consumers speculating on the introduction of new tax policies. Since June, the price of domestically produced cigarettes in Egypt has surged from 24 Egyptian pounds to 60 Egyptian pounds. Eastern Tobacco Company, the domestic cigarette manufacturer, has an annual production of 70 billion cigarettes, occupying approximately 75% of Egypt’s market share.
Alleviating Shortages, Increasing Production
To alleviate the tobacco shortage, Eastern Tobacco Company has recently increased its cigarette production, says Aman. He urges consumers not to purchase more than their actual needs and to avoid stockpiling, adding that prices will return to normal within three to four weeks.
According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), of the 1.3 billion tobacco users worldwide, approximately 80% live in low- and middle-income countries. It is estimated that tobacco use causes 8 million deaths each year, with 1.2 million resulting from exposure to secondhand smoke.
