Market decline slows in Poland

Forty-one billion cigarette were sold in Poland last year, 2.1 percent fewer than were sold there in 2014, according to a Polish News Bulletin story relayed by the TMA.

The rate of decline was not as steep as it was between 2013 and 2014 when there was a fall of 10 percent year-on-year.

Industry observers attributed the slow-down in the rate of decline to a broadening customer base following an influx of Ukrainians into Poland.

In January 2016, cigarette sales dropped by 5.8 percent from those of January 2015, whereas the decreases between January 2014 and January 2015, and between January 2013 and January 2014 were nine percent and 10 percent respectively.

Grzegorz Byszewski of Employers of Poland said cigarette sales in Poland were declining at a rate in line with the EU average.

He said that a lack of tobacco excise hikes and increased consumer purchasing power were making cigarettes increasingly affordable.