According to a report by South Korean media outlet n.news on January 3, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance in South Korea stated that the domestic tobacco sales volume for the year 2023 decreased by 20 million boxes compared to 2019, reaching 3.61 billion boxes. This marks the first decline in four years. The domestic tobacco sales volume dropped from 3.47 billion boxes in 2018 to 3.45 billion boxes in 2019, and then experienced growth in 2020 and 2021, reaching 3.63 billion boxes in 2022.
With the increase in overseas travel amid the pandemic, the sales volume of duty-free tobacco saw a significant growth of 60.7% last year, reaching 1.4 billion boxes. As a result, the actual total tobacco sales volume, combining domestic and duty-free sales, amounted to 3.74 billion boxes, marking a year-on-year increase of 0.8% and achieving growth for the second consecutive year.
A specific analysis of tobacco sales reveals that traditional tobacco sales have decreased by 2.8%, reaching a total of 3 billion boxes. However, there has been a significant growth of 12.6% in the sales of tobacco-filled e-cigarettes, reaching a total of 610 million boxes. Of particular note is the expanding market share of tobacco-filled e-cigarettes in the domestic tobacco market, which was 14.8% in 2022. It is expected to further increase to 16.9% by 2023.
We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.
Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn
Notice
1. This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.
2. The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.
3. This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.
4. Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.
Copyright
This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.
For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com
AI Assistance Disclaimer
This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.
We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com
