Middle East

After a year of strong growth in 2021, cigarette sales recorded a slight unit volume decline in Middle East and Africa in 2022. With disposable incomes under pressure in a lot of countries, illicit trade remains a problem in many of them. E-vaping…

Cigarettes saw a significant increase in volume sales in Israel in 2023. The outbreak of the Israel-Hamas War in October 2023 led to an increase in smoking, with more than one survey seeing a notable increase in the frequency of smoking amongst…

Consumption and sales of cigarettes in Saudia Arabia in 2023 remained severely impacted by the growing consumer shift from cigarettes to e-vapour products and heated tobacco. The number of consumers quitting smoking cigarettes has been increasing,…

Despite the huge success of e-vapour products and heated tobacco products, cigarettes in the United Arab Emirates continued to record healthy growth in 2023. The smoking tradition is very strong in Arabic culture, and both locals and expatriates…

Cigars and cigarillos saw volume sales rise in Israel in 2023, while smoking tobacco also saw volumes increase. Smoking tobacco dominates category retail volume sales in Israel, with fine cut tobacco remaining a popular, more affordable alternative…

In Saudi Arabia in 2023, volume sales in cigars, cigarillos and smoking tobacco declined while current value sales saw an only marginal rise. Consumers continued to shift from cigars and cigarillos towards vapes and heated tobacco products. Such…

After cigarettes, pipe tobacco in the United Arab Emirates remains the most popular category in the local industry, which is determined by the historical significance of shisha, the traditional Middle Eastern pipe device. Shisha tobacco comprises the…

The briefing introduces the Cities Households Necessities Spending Index. The index ranks 1,075 cities by household expenditure on non-discretionary items, namely food, housing, and clothing and footwear. This analysis focuses on 160 major cities.…

Slower growth, surging inflation, rising geopolitical risks and an accelerating deglobalisation trend are factors shaping the global economic, financial and trade landscape in 2022 and beyond. Despite the challenges, there are opportunities for…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries. Global inflation is reaching a peak, although geopolitical risks and uncertainty in the energy market remain key risks. The impact varies between countries, with…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries in Q4 2023 and 2024. Global inflation is moderating, although divergence remains among the key economies. Higher volatility in the energy markets and disruption of…

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered the most severe global recession since World War II. In Q4 2020, the end of the pandemic started as countries began administering effective vaccines among the population; however, vaccine distribution…

This report considers what socialising will look like in a post-COVID-19 era, focusing on several key questions. A return to the “Roaring Twenties” in the beverages space or a continuing decimation of the on-trade? How has socialising changed (eg…

Heated tobacco products in the United Arab Emirates recorded the most impressive growth rates within the local tobacco industry in 2023, followed by e-vapour products. Both tobacco heating devices and heated tobacco recorded double-digit retail…

With the entry of the new government in January 2023, the new Minister of Treasury decreased the taxes on single use e-cigs and refillable liquid from 270% to 145% with an additional ILS4.64/ml. However, overall tax cannot be lower than ILS8.9/ml.…

Overall smokeless tobacco, e-vapour products and heated tobacco saw triple-digit rises in both volume and current value sales In Saudi Arabia in 2023. The popularity of heated tobacco products continued to expand, led by Phillip Morris as the main…

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the consumer goods market in Sub-Saharan Africa, with recovery expected to take place over time. Consumers expenditure has been negatively affected, as value seeking consumers shift to essential products. The…

Surging demand for e-vapour products was the main trend in tobacco in Iraq during 2023, as demand for cigarettes and smoking tobacco falls. Notably, new consumers, including women and young adults, tend to find vaping preferable to smoking.…

The tobacco market saw growth in Israel in 2023. The Israel-Hamas War caused a lot of stress, fear and uncertainty amongst locals, with many existing smokers smoking more frequently, and some former smokers returning to the habit. The outbreak of the…

In 2023, tobacco in Jordan has seen growth in current value sales, largely due to consumers shifting from cigarettes to more expensive alternatives. Although cigarette volumes experienced a slight decline as consumers moved towards reduced-risk…