Major cigarette manufacturers operating in Russia have raised prices in the past six months, Russia’s Federal Taxation Service reported.
Prices are increasing gradually, experts note. Certain brands have shown a 3.5% growth following the New Year holidays. According to companies’ representatives, the move is due to an increase in tobacco excise taxes. Another contributing factor is the last year’s rise in VAT and transition to producing cigarettes with marking.
The prices rise may result in Russian citizens choosing to buy counterfeit cigarettes, some experts say.