Sales of cigarettes in France have reduced. Part 1

March 17, 2014

Sales of cigarettes in France have reduced. Mainly thanks to electronic cigarettes.

In France as result of 2013 sales of tobacco products have reduced and the record demand reduction has fallen on usual cigarettes.Tobacco Companies have sold 47.5 billions of cigarettes in 2013, i.e. by 7.6% less than one year earlier. Experts explain it with growth of prices on cigarettes practically to 7 euro for pack and with popularity of electronic cigarettes.

Electronic cigarettes became one of main reasons of tobacco smoking reduction in France in 2013. To such conclusion came experts of French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (OFDT) after making independent research of tobacco market.

According to OFDT report in 2013 sale of tobacco products in France have fallen by 6.2% and the major demand reduction has fallen on usual cigarettes sale of which in France have reduced by record 7.6%. Tobacco Companies have sold in France 47.5 billions of cigarettes in 2013, i.e. by 4 billions less than one year earlier. Demand on other tobacco products (cigars, chewing tobacco and other) has reduced by 5.6%. Only sale of tobacco for roll-ups continues to grow but much slower than earlier (+2.6% in 2013 as compared to 6.4% earlier).

Sharp reduction of cigarettes' sale took place for the first time in 2004 when was sharply increased their price as part of smoking control. Then average price of cigarettes has grown from 4.08 euro to 5 euro and sales as compared to 2003 have reduced by 21%. In the period of 2005 to 2009 prices on cigarettes haven't grown and sales remained approximately on the same level. Beginning with 2010 prices on cigarettes have grown approximately by 30 cents annually, reaching in average 6.7 euro for pack in 2013. According to OFDT experts' opinion gradual price increase has furthered significant fall of cigarettes' sales in 2013 and also sharp growth of electronic cigarettes' popularity. "Such unexpected drop in sales can be partially explained with price growth for the last 4 years as result price of popular cigarette brands has reached 7 euro. But it is not all. Electronic cigarettes have furthered drop in sales a lot" - is told in the report.