According to Maldives Customs Service, conventional cigarette imports to Maldives dropped. On the other hand, imports on electronic cigarettes and vapes increased 7%.
The annual statistical review from the authority confirms tobacco related products among top imported commodities. A single cigarette filter costs MVR3.00 in import duty tax.
Traditional cigarettes saw a decline in their demand owing to strong efforts at the state level to curb smoking and tobacco usage; most notably through state’s anti-tobacco efforts that include placing warning labels on cigarette packs.
Historically, cigarette demands showed an inverse relation with tax hikes. In 2011, import duties on cigarette stood at just MVR0.99 per filter, which rose to MVR1.25 per filter in 2015. This rate further pushed upwards in 2017 with an import duty of MVR2.00 per filter, while the latest such surge was in 2020 during which import duties rose to MVR3.00 per filter.
Moreover, Customs confirm cigarette imports fell by 31% in 2021 compared to 2016. Furthermore, 2016 still holds record for highest cigarette imports to the country within a single fiscal year.