Adriana Sas
Research expert covering the Polish market
Tobacco industry in Poland - statistics & facts
Since the beginning of the 21st century, the Polish tobacco market has been undergoing profound changes. They have been influenced by, among other things, Poland's accession to the European Union (EU), an increase in societal wealth, lifestyle changes, and the introduction of new regulations. Some of these transformations affected the industry. For example, an EU directive obliged Poland to increase its excise duty and reach a minimum of 60 percent of the retail price. The increase in excise duty impacted the change in sales volumes. Nevertheless, the country's tobacco market has stabilized and developed dynamically in recent years.
The tobacco sector has emerged as a vital segment of the Polish economy. Since 2005, the industry's gross value added has almost quadrupled, indicating its growing significance in generating Polish income. The value added is a widely used measure of a sector's contribution to a country's GDP.
Cigarette production has increased by 43 percent over the last decade. In 2022, the value of the tobacco industry's production amounted to over 11.2 billion zloty. Growing exports strongly influenced the increase in production and its value. In 2023, exports amounted to 5.29 billion euros, with a positive trade balance of over 4.24 billion euros. Germany was the largest recipient of tobacco products from Poland.
In Poland, the discussion on banning the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes has recently heated up. The drastic increase in sales of these products and environmental issues have become critical factors in favor of the ban. According to estimates, the number of disposable cigarettes sold in Poland increased by more than 200 percent, reaching nearly 100 million units in 2023. The government plans to completely ban the sale of disposable nicotine-free e-cigarettes to people under 18 from the beginning of 2025.
Poland, a tobacco powerhouse
Poland holds a significant position in the global tobacco industry. It is the world's largest exporter of tobacco products and one of the EU's leading manufacturers of cigarettes and smoking tobacco. Major industry players like Philip Morris, Imperial Tobacco, Japan Tobacco International, and British American Tobacco have established their business operations in Poland.The tobacco sector has emerged as a vital segment of the Polish economy. Since 2005, the industry's gross value added has almost quadrupled, indicating its growing significance in generating Polish income. The value added is a widely used measure of a sector's contribution to a country's GDP.
Cigarette production has increased by 43 percent over the last decade. In 2022, the value of the tobacco industry's production amounted to over 11.2 billion zloty. Growing exports strongly influenced the increase in production and its value. In 2023, exports amounted to 5.29 billion euros, with a positive trade balance of over 4.24 billion euros. Germany was the largest recipient of tobacco products from Poland.
The drastic increase in sales of disposable e-cigarettes
Cigarette consumption per capita in Poland has decreased by nearly 49 percent since 2005. The main contributing factors are promoting healthy lifestyles, restrictions associated with smoking in public places, rising prices, and growing public awareness of how tobacco use impacts health. Nonetheless, 29 percent of the population in Poland smokes cigarettes. Besides traditional cigarettes, new products such as electronic cigarettes and tobacco heaters have been growing interest for several years. Young people between 18 and 24 most often use them. In 2023, e-cigarette sales revenue amounted to nearly 311 million U.S. dollars.In Poland, the discussion on banning the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes has recently heated up. The drastic increase in sales of these products and environmental issues have become critical factors in favor of the ban. According to estimates, the number of disposable cigarettes sold in Poland increased by more than 200 percent, reaching nearly 100 million units in 2023. The government plans to completely ban the sale of disposable nicotine-free e-cigarettes to people under 18 from the beginning of 2025.
