About 13% of cigarettes smoked in Belgium are illegal, a new report commissioned by tobacco group Philip Morris International shows.
The consumption of illicit cigarettes has been increasing significantly in Belgium and across Europe, according to the report, produced by the KPMG firm and published on Monday.
Belgium is already recognised as a key hub for the manufacture and distribution of illicit cigarettes, but the new report showcases a marked rise in domestic consumption too.
It noted that the number of illicit cigarettes consumed in Belgium exceeded the one-billion mark for the first time in 2023.
More than 35 billion were consumed across the 27 EU member States in the same year.
According to estimates, the State of Belgium could be missing out on a staggering €435 million in excise duties. This represents a €185 million increase within a year.
Out of 38 nations analysed, France, Ukraine and the United Kingdom remain the biggest markets for illegal cigarettes.
Across Europe in 2023, 113 secret production workshops were dismantled, including five in Belgium.
