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Cigarette black market grows to over 17 pc in March

By Anca Bernovici
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The black market in tobacco increased by 1.6 percentage points in March 2018, as compared to January 2018, to 17.2 percent of total consumption, Novel Research study shows.

Also, in the first quarter of this year, the average illicit trade is 16.4 percent, 0.7 percentage points higher than the similar period in 2017.

”Four of the eight regions in the country record significant increases in illicit cigarette trade in March. The northeast region continues to be most affected by the black market, with an increase of 5.5 percentage points to 43.2 percent. The most significant recovery is recorded in the western area, by 9.3  pp up to 27 percent,” the study reveals.

Increases in illegal trade were also recorded in the southwest of 6 pp up to 19.9 percent, and in the southeast by 3.5 pp up to 16.4 percent.

The so-called “cheap whites” – foreign-sounding brand names made solely for the black market – accounted for 55.9 percent of all smuggled cigarettes.

The share of illegally produced tobacco products in Moldova is decreasing by 11.1 percentage points in March compared to January, to 21.2 percent.

The inflow of illicit cigarettes from Ukraine is slightly increasing (2.7 pp, up to 15.6 percent), contraband from Serbia stayed flat, according to Marian Marcu, Novel Research’s director.

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Anca Bernovici

Anca Bernovici

I started my way in life with the intention to pursue a teaching career. But, after graduating from the Faculty of Letters – the University of Bucharest in 2004, my first job as a reporter at one of the leading newspapers in Romania changed my perspective. I have specialized in communication and communication campaigns, following the Master's courses at the Faculty of Journalism and Communication Studies (FJSC), attending a BBC Communications scholarship.
I’ve represented several important publications in Romania as business journalist, being accredited in the finance and banking field. In 2015, I had the opportunity to interview the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Mission Chief for Romania, Andrea Schaechter. As business journalist, I also had the opportunity to interview ministers for Economics and Commercial
Affairs offices within different embassies in Romania or officials of large companies investing on the domestic market.
After almost 15 years of journalism, I still want to explore new ways, to inform and stay updated. That’s why The Romania Journal project fits me so well.
Today I describe myself as a passionate about the history of world culture, having a PhD in Hebrew Culture and Civilization, after a scholarship at the University of Haifa International School, as a language addict, an environmental activist, pet lover and traveler.

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