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.
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.
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.
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.
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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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 definitionsThis report originates from Passport, our Tobacco research and analysis database.
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