BUDAPEST: 27 tons of loose tobacco has been confiscated and seized by Hungarian tax and customs authority last year, up from the previous year’s 6.7 tons, while legal sales fell from 12 bln to 7.3 bln, with loose tobacco sales remaining unchanged at 5,000 tons.
National tobacco stores booked revenue of HUF 535 billion. According to the paper’s calculations, a tobacco store has average revenue of HUF 90 million; however revenues greatly vary depending on the location of the stores.
Legislation approved in 2012 made the retail sale of tobacco products a state monopoly as of July 1, 2013, requiring store owners to acquire concessions on tenders.
