Illegal market remains a concern: KPMG – Tobacco Reporter

“It is really encouraging to see a decrease in illicit consumption in countries like Italy, Poland, Romania and Spain. We must continue to work with law enforcement agencies and governments to ensure that illicit trade does not become an even bigger problem in the EU,” said Massimo Andolina, President, Europe Region, PMI.

For the first time since its publication in 2006, KPMG’s annual research study has broadened its scope to include all Balkan countries. The study now covers 38 countries: the 27 EU member states, plus Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Ukraine and the UK.

The Balkan region has lower illegal cigarette sales than some Western European countries, such as France and the United Kingdom. Ukraine, on the other hand, remains the country with the second highest volume of illegal cigarettes, at 8.4 billion.