About 15,000 Cambodians die each year due to tobacco-related diseases, one-third of whom are from lower-income groups.[1]
Smoking Prevalence
The overall smoking rate in 2018 was estimated at 19.8%. Of this total, 91% are men.[2]
Cigarette Retail Price
In 2016, the regular price for a pack of Ara had increased to US$0.50 per pack, while the price of an overseas brand, such as Fine was at US$0.85 per pack.[3]
Tobacco Leaf Production
According to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)[4] the information of tobacco leaf production in Cambodia in 2018 as presented in the table below;
| Element | Value |
| Area harvested | 7,526.00Im ha |
| Yield | 18,410.00FC hg/ha |
| Production | 13,856.00Im tonnes |
FC: Calculated data
Im: FAO data based on imputation methodology
Who Dominates the Market?
BAT Cambodia dominates cigarette market of Cambodia. The industry is possessed by a joint-venture group that comprises British American Tobacco (51%), SUTL Investments (20%), and Cambodia Tobacco Co. Ltd (29%). The other important players in the market are Imperial Tobacco and Viniton. Smaller, local manufacturers and traders in Cambodia, including Hong International Tobacco, West & East Cambodia, Broadway Synergy, Lyte Sokha, Mong Sreng Import Export Co., Rock International Tobacco, and Thai Boon Roong Group.[5]
Roadmap to Tobacco Control
Cambodia’s relatively relaxed approach to the regulation of the tobacco market changed in November 2005 when the country’s government ratified the WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Moves following the ratification of the FCTC included further restrictions on promotion in 2015, the introduction of graphic on-pack warnings in 2016, and plans for public smoking bans that were announced in 2017.[6]
Tobacco Control Legislation in Cambodia[7]
| 1994 | CO-MINISTERS IN CHARGE OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS TO THE MINISTER OF HEALTH on the request for cigarette smoking ban in workplaces, meeting places, theaters, public transportation, and other urban areas |
| 2000 | MINISTER OF EDUCATION, YOUTH AND SPORTS on Smoking ban in workplaces, academic establishments, meeting halls, and theaters MINISTER OF CULT AND RELIGION on Implementation of the smoking ban in workplaces, establishments for Buddhism studies, meeting halls, gathering halls, pagodas, and theaters |
| 2001 | MINISTER OF WOMEN’S AND VETERANS’ AFFAIRS on Enforcement of cigarette smoking ban in workplaces and meeting halls |
| 2005 | CIRCULAR ON SMOKING BAN IN THE CAMPUSES OF MILITARY ENTITIES WITHIN THE ROYAL CAMBODIAN ARM FORCES. Royal Cambodia Arm Forces Circular on Smoking ban in the campuses of military entities within the Royal Cambodia Armed Forces. |
| 2006 | SUB-DECREE ON MEASURES FOR THE BANNING OF SMOKING OR BLOWING THE SMOKE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS AT WORKPLACES AND PUBLIC PLACES Ministry of Industry, Mine and Energy, DIRECTIVE ON SMOKING BAN IN WORKPLACES AND MEETING HALLS |
| 2007 | Ministry of Economy and Finance, DIRECTIVE ON SMOKING BAN IN WORKPLACES AND MEETING HALLS Ministry of Environment, CIRCULAR ON SMOKING BAN IN WORKPLACES AND MEETING HALLS |
| 2009 | SUB-DECREE ON PRINTING HEALTH WARNING ON CIGARETTE PACKAGES Ministry of Interior, CIRCULAR ON SMOKE FREE PLACES |
| 2010 | DIRECTIVE ON SMOKING BAN IN WORKPLACES MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES on Enforcement of smoking ban in workplaces, academic establishments and meeting halls |
| 2011 | PRAKAS ON MEASURES FOR THE BANNING OF TOBACCO PRODUCT ADVERTISING |
| 2012 | Circular on Smoking Ban at Workplaces and Within the Compound of Angkor temple sites, 2012 |
| 2013 | Sub-Decree on Measures for the Banning of Smoking or Blowing the Smoke of Tobacco Products at Workplaces and Public Places |
| 2014 | Circular On Measures to Prevent and Terminate Consumptions, Sales, and Imports of SHISHA and E-Cigarette in the Kingdom of Cambodia |
| 2015 | Prakas on Legal procedure for printing of Health Warning in Khmer Language and Pictorial on Tobacco Products Packages |
| 2021 | Circular on measurement to prevent and avoid importation, trafficking, sale, and use of tobacco heated products (HTPs) in the Kingdom of Cambodia |
[1] https://cmhcambodia.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Investment-Case-for-Tobacco-Control-in-Cambodia.pdf
[2] Global Data, Cigarettes in Cambodia, 2020
[3] Ibid
[4] Tobacco Production Quantity by Country, FAO Data: Food and Agriculture Organization <http://data.un.org/Data.aspx?d=FAO&f=itemCode%3a826>
[5] Ibid
[6] Ibid
[7] https://seatca.org/resource-center-asean-tc-cambodia/