Accelerating Progress on Effective Tobacco Tax Policies in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Macedonia

The Republic of Macedonia has a long history and tradition of cultivating and exporting raw tobacco, especially the Oriental type of tobacco. As such, Macedonia is one of the major raw tobacco leaves and finished cigarettes producing countries in the region.

In this document, we analyze the specific characteristics of tobacco cultivation in Macedonia, supply and demand of tobacco and tobacco products, tobacco industry and tobacco products market and tobacco control policies, including taxation. Most of Macedonia’s cigarette consumption comes from domestic production, while cigars, cigarillos, and smoking tobacco are imported. In addition to domestically manufactured cigarette brands, some are imported.

Based on the size of the market and data provided by the Ministry of Finance, Central Registry of Macedonia, State Statistical Office of Macedonia and other sources, we discuss the supply and demand on the tobacco market, as well as the effects of national policies, including taxation, excise tax and value-added tax (VAT) on tobacco product prices and consumption levels. The domestic production and import-export data from the MAK STAT database of the State Statistical Office of Macedonia are also included.

A corresponding Policy Brief can be found here.