Tobacco in 2024: The big picture
Tobacco saw volume sales rise in Lebanon in 2024. Despite the global trends in smoking habits, which are generally declining, smoking prevalence in Lebanon remains very high with little effort to limit or reduce smoking. There are no awareness campaigns, or they are very few and very limited, and the price of tobacco remains very affordable compared to some other countries and compared to Europe and the US. Smoking prevalence amongst the youth population is particularly concerning, and the rate of pipe tobacco smoking is also amongst the highest in the world.
2024 key trends
Volume sales of tobacco continued to grow in Lebanon in 2024, due to the absence of regulation, a highly stressful environment in Lebanon, and, in good times, a very strong nightlife and hospitality sector that supports smoking – especially in the absence of enforcement of the indoor smoking ban. Lebanese consumers smoke cigarettes, pipe tobacco (mostly shisha), and heated tobacco (IQOS), as well as e-vapour products even though they are officially banned. While there may be more awareness amongst younger consumers about the harmful effects of cigarettes, there is also a strong uptake of smoking amongst adolescents who come from more modest backgrounds, are less educated and are exposed to smoking by their parents and families at home. This applies especially to pipe tobacco, which is very commonly smoked at home in some households.
Competitive landscape
Regie Libanaise des Tabacs et Tombacs’ Cedars brand continues to dominate the tobacco market in Lebanon thanks to its low cost, strong government support, marketing and distribution efforts. Its production has grown significantly as well. Regie Libanaise des Tabacs et Tombacs is a quasi-monopoly, responsible for imports and exports, growing and selling. It produces for, and profits off the sale of, international brands. It is therefore extremely powerful and has a hand in managing the market in a way that guarantees it remains on top.
Retail developments
Small local grocers remains the largest retailing channel for tobacco, largely because it accounts for nearly two-thirds of cigarette volume sales. The channel’s strength is founded on the prevalence and wide presence of such stores, and the convenience of purchasing tobacco products upon need at any time of the day or often even at night. Cigarettes are not necessarily bought during larger supermarket or hypermarket visits, but tend to be purchased more when needed and can be bought throughout the month and week. The same goes for pipe tobacco, although there are now more and more specialist pipe tobacco retailers, in addition to home deliveries, which are very prevalent. Supermarkets and the hospitality sector jointly dominate sales of smoking tobacco. In heated tobacco, IQOS is working to develop its presence in online sales channels, though the hospitality sector continued to dominate category sales at the end of the review period.
What next for tobacco?
Tobacco volume sales are expected to continue to grow in Lebanon over the forecast period. As long as Regie Libanaise des Tabacs et Tombacs is controlling the market and influencing government decisions, it is unlikely that a real effort to stifle consumption will be introduced. All types of cigarettes, pipe tobacco and heated tobacco will see growth.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Tobacco industry in Lebanon with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.
Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.
Data and analysis in this report provides further detailed coverage dedicated to the following key categories, where applicable:
- Cigarettes
- Cigars, Cigarillos and Smoking Tobacco
- Smokeless Tobacco, E-Vapour Products and Heated Tobacco
If you're in the Tobacco industry in Lebanon, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.
The Tobacco in Lebanon report includes:
- Analysis of key supply-side and demand trends
- Detailed segmentation of international and local products
- Historic volume and value sizes, company and brand market shares
- Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
- Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country
This report answers:
- What is the market size of Tobacco in Lebanon?
- Which are the leading brands in Tobacco in Lebanon?
- How are products distributed in Tobacco in Lebanon?
- Which category is the most heavily taxed in Lebanon?
- How is the operating environment for Tobacco changing?
- What are the current legislative restrictions applicable to the sale of Tobacco products in Lebanon?
- How has COVID-19 impacted demand?
- How have national lockdown and enforced home seclusion following COVID-19 impacted sales?
- Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?
Tobacco in Lebanon
Tobacco in 2024: The big picture
2024 key trends
Competitive landscape
Retail developments
What next for tobacco?
Legislation
TAXATION AND DUTY LEVIES
DISCLAIMER
Key Data Findings
2024 Developments
Continued growth
Cedars remains dominant
Small local grocers benefits from extensive store network and long opening hours
Growth to be constrained by health consciousness and alternative products
Demand for cigarettes can be influenced by times of crisis or stability
Lack of innovation
Category Data
Key Data Findings
2024 Developments
Cigars and cigarillos sees some recovery, while smoking tobacco remains very popular
Hospitality sector important for leading brand
Distribution varies across categories
Smoking tobacco growth underpinned by deep cultural roots
Cigars to retain niche popularity despie competiton, while pipe tobacco to remain strong
Innovation in hookah smoking
Category Data
Key Data Findings
2024 Developments
Strong growth for heated tobacco
Heated tobacco faces little official competition from e-vapour products or smokeless tobacco
Heated tobacco benefits from widespread distribution
Further strong growth anticipated
Heated tobacco remains the key category, with future of e-vapour products uncertain
Lebanese consumers keen on new products
Category Data
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Tobacco
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- Fine Cut Cigarettes
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- Cigarettes (Illicit+Legal)
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- Cigars
- Cigarillos
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- Pipe Tobacco
- Fine Cut Tobacco
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- Chewing Tobacco
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- Loose US-Style Moist Snuff
- Portion US-Style Moist Snuff
- Swedish-Style Snus
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- Closed System Single Use
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- Closed System Rechargeable (including starter kits)
- Closed System Cartridges
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- Open Vaping Systems Charging and Vapourising Devices
- E-liquids
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- Tobacco Heating Devices
- Heated Tobacco
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- Nicotine Pouches
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- Closed System Single Use (Illicit+Legal)
- Closed System Cartridges (Illicit+Legal)
- E-Liquids (Illicit+Legal)
Tobacco
Passport Tobacco covers the seven major tobacco categories: Cigarettes, Cigars & Cigarillos, Smoking tobacco (made up of Pipe tobacco and RYO tobacco), Smokeless Tobacco (snuff and chewing tobacco), E-Vapour Products (closed and open); Heated Tobacco; and Tobacco Free Oral Nicotine. Smoking paraphernalia such as pipes, rolling papers, lighters or matches, etc., are not included, nor are nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products, which are part of Euromonitor's Passport Consumer Healthcare database.
See all of our definitionsWhy buy this report?
- Gain competitive intelligence about market leaders
- Track key industry trends, opportunities and threats
- Inform your marketing, brand, strategy and market development, sales and supply functions
This report originates from Passport, our Tobacco research and analysis database.
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