Tobacco sales fell more than 40% in the Canary Islands during the pandemic

The president of the Tobacco Board, Águeda García-Agulló, points out that tobacco "represents 4% of exports in the islands and amounts to 161 million euros"

EFE

April 8 2022 (10:27 WEST)
The president of the Tobacco Board, Águeda García Agulló | Photo: EFE
The president of the Tobacco Board, Águeda García Agulló | Photo: EFE

The absence of tourism and changes in habits during the coronavirus pandemic generated a drop in tobacco sales in Spain of 40% in tourist areas, although in the Canary Islands it was higher, according to the president of the Tobacco Board, Águeda García-Agulló, said this Thursday.

In statements to journalists, on the occasion of the conference on the perspectives of the sector in Spain and the Canary Islands held by the Board in the capital of Gran Canaria, García-Agulló highlighted "the importance of this product in the archipelago, which represents 4% of the islands' exports and amounts to 161 million euros", in addition to 256 million in Spain as a whole.

The representative of the sector indicated that covid affected tobacco as it did the rest of the sectors, although it was declared essential and was able to continue with the activity, despite the "enormous effort that it meant for the industries."

Regarding the prohibition of smoking on terraces, she pointed out that "it was an exceptional measure that was adopted due to the pandemic", and commented that it is in line with the return to normality, which "is good news for everyone."

"The Canary Islands concentrates numerous cigarette factories in Spain and the majority of cigars", García-Agulló highlighted, who detailed that in the islands there are "40 industries and six large factories that generate 1,000 direct jobs and 5,000 indirect ones." "With a gross added value of 350 million euros," added the director of the Canary Islands Association of Tobacco Industrialists (ACIT), Gustavo Ojeda.

The conference addressed the challenges facing the sector in the face of regulation, sustainability and innovation, among other issues regarding this sector that in Spain generates 43,000 jobs, 9,000 million euros in tax collection and a gross added value of 2,800 million, according to data provided by the Tobacco Board.

In terms of regulation, García-Agulló referred to the Circular Economy Law that establishes the extended responsibility regime for the producer and the changes introduced in traceability for production from 2024 by European regulations, although she said that there are announced "possible regulatory changes that, for the moment, have not materialized."

García-Agulló emphasized the importance of the sector in the Canary Islands and that they will work "for its continuity and the protection of its factories and employment."

Ojeda added that tobacco has been a traditional crop in the islands and feels like "very local", and also represents "an important part of the collection in the autonomous community for the Tax on Tobacco Products and for the IGIC."

The representative of the industries in the islands also pointed out that the increase in inflation "has not yet been noticed, but assured that in the medium term it will undoubtedly be noticed." The vice president and Minister of Finance of the autonomous community, Román Rodríguez, closed the conference.

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