Status of tobacco production and trade in Africa, 2nd ed.

Overview

Tobacco growing is damaging the environment and threatening health. As regulations tighten in middle- and high-income countries, tobacco companies are increasingly targeting African countries to expand tobacco-leaf production. 

Between 2012–2024, global tobacco-leaf production declined by 18.8%, while production in Africa increased by 8.61%. Production is also highly concentrated, with just 10 countries accounting for 93.1% of Africa’s tobacco-leaf production. 

Africa remains a net exporter of tobacco leaf, while imports of manufactured tobacco products, particularly cigarettes, have risen substantially, with the continent’s cigarette import bill more than doubling since 2012. 

This a second edition of the Status of tobacco production and trade in Africa (2021), following the Status of tobacco production and trade in Africa: factsheets (2015).