Cigarettes in Uruguay

PRE-COVID-19 PERFORMANCE

Illicit trade strengthens as price of legal cigarettes escalates

Cigarettes retail volume sales showed a fourth consecutive yearly decline in 2019, driven by economic instability, tobacco tax hikes, public health initiatives, and strict regulatory controls. For instance, the government tightened regulations in the modern sales channels, which do not allow the exhibition of cigarettes, and after buying at the checkout consumers must go to the customer service area to collect their cigarettes.

Volume decline becoming steeper

The declining trend in cigarettes retail volume sales in Uruguay is strengthening as the government pursues aggressive tobacco control policies in an effort to further reduce smoking prevalence. In particular, the government is increasing taxes on cigarettes so as to make smoking a more expensive habit.

Monte Paz leaves little room for retail rivals

Local company Monte Paz continued to dominate cigarettes in retail volume sales terms in 2019, and remained the only player in the category to produce its brands in Uruguay. Its only legitimate competitors are Abal Hnos SA, a Philip Morris International Inc subsidiary, and British American Tobacco Uruguay.

2020 AND BEYOND

COVID-19 impact

In 2020, sales of cigarettes are now expected to decline by 7% in constant 2019 value terms, in light of the impact of COVID-19. This represents some fall from the 2% rise in sales forecast in Euromonitor International’s 2019 edition of tobacco.

Recovery and opportunities

As of June 2020, Uruguay has escaped the worst of the pandemic, and therefore can expect fewer of the economic consequences of living under lockdown and quarantine. Therefore, cigarettes is predicted to see its slight disruption in volume demand begin to normalise.

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