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National Institute of Statistics: Romania's exports of tobacco products increased in 2023 to over 1.6 billion euros 1.2 billion euros - the positive contribution of the tobacco sector in Romania's trade balance last year

22 May 2024

In 2023, Romania exported tobacco products worth more than 1.68 billion euros, according to the latest data published by the National Institute of Statistics, an increase of more than 200 million euros compared to the previous year
The volume of exports of tobacco products from Romania increased by over 300 million euros in the last 3 years, according to the same data
70% of BAT`s factory production in Ploiesti is exported to markets around the world. BAT is the biggest player on the local market and one of the largest exporters of processed agricultural products in Romania
BAT is committed to building A Better Tomorrow™, with economic viability and sustainability as essential pillars in this journey

Bucharest, May 22nd, 2024 – According to the recent data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS), the total value of exports of raw and processed tobacco products, such as cigarettes and tobacco consumables for heating products, amounted to 1.68 billion euros in 2023, representing an increase of 200 million euros compared to the previous year. BAT Romania, the largest player on the local tobacco market, exports about 70% of the volumes produced in Ploiesti (cigarettes and tobacco consumables for glo), where the group's second largest factory in Europe is located and where more than 500 million euros have been invested so far.

The total value of raw and processed tobacco imports in 2023 was around 412 million euros, thus the positive contribution of the tobacco sector to Romania's trade balance increasing to over 1.2 billion euros, as compared to 1.1 billion euros in the previous year.

According to the data published by the INS, the volume of exports of tobacco products increased by more than 300 million euros in the last 3 years, evolving from 1.34 billion euros in 2021 to a total volume of more than 1.68 billion euros last year. Also, according to the INS, in 2023 tobacco products represented over 43% of the total exports of food products, beverages and tobacco.

"Our factory in Ploiesti is an eloquent example of our commitment to building A Better Tomorrow™, with constant investments in technological innovation, sustainability and continuous professional development of the over 1,000 employees, to the standards of a company of the future. We remain a strategic partner in the economic growth of Romania, with direct and indirect investments, a positive contribution to the country's trade balance, and significant contributions to the state budget in taxes and excise ", said Jorge Araya, South-Eastern Europe Area at BAT and GM of BAT Romania.

With a market share of over 50%, BAT is the largest multi-category company on the tobacco and nicotine market in Romania, and the only one offering the entire range available of new category reduced risk* products, such as nicotine pouches for oral use, vapor products, and tobacco and herbal consumables for glo, our innovative heating device. BAT strongly maintains its commitment to contributing to the Romanian economy growth, as one of the biggest foreign investors and one of the largest contributors to the country's state budget. In the first 25 years of local presence, the company has generated an impact of over 125 billion euros in the economy, of which around 24 billion euros are a direct contribution to the state budget, as taxes and excise. BAT has over 3,000 employees in Romania and generates another 30,000 jobs indirectly, in its distribution and supply chain.

In December 2017, BAT launched glo in Romania, the company's most innovative product that heats tobacco. At BAT level, the factory in Romania was the first production unit in the European Union and the 3rd globally to produce tobacco consumables for glo, the innovative device in BAT`s portfolio that heats tobacco and, more recently, herbal consumables.

BAT factory in Ploiesti is AWS (Alliance for Water Stewardship) certified for sustainable water consumption and currently sends zero waste to landfill. Recently, as part of BAT's commitment to sustainability and the development of green energy sources, around 1,000 photovoltaic panels were installed on the roof of the production hall in Ploiesti.