An estimated potential loss for the Croatian budget due to the illegal tobacco market in 2020 was HRK 1.4 billion, according to findings of a survey conducted by the Croatian Employers' Association (HUP) and the Ipsos pollster.

The findings of the survey, conducted on a representative sample of 1,344 households with a total of 3,299 respondents, show a marked share of untaxed cigarettes and tobacco products used by consumers.

As many as 28.1% of adult Croatians are tobacco consumers, and 17% of tobacco products consumed in a year are illegal products, with illegal cut tobacco accounting for the largest portion.

As a result, in 2020 Croatia lost 1.4 billion kuna in tax revenue due to tobacco smuggling, HUP main economist Iva Tomić said last Wednesday at the presentation of the survey’s findings.

Nearly 3 in 10 Croats aged over 18 are smokers

Davor Tolić of the Ipsos pollster said that 28.1% of adult Croatians consume tobacco products and they mainly smoke cigarettes, followed by cut tobacco.

The consumption of e-cigarettes, cigars and pipe tobacco and cigarillos amounted for less than 1% of the total consumption.

(€1 = HRK 7.5)