Key Market Indicators
South Africa's tobacco production is projected to decline to approximately 13,850 metric tons by 2028, down from around 14,640 metric tons in 2023. This represents a 0.9% year-on-year decrease in its compound annual growth rate (CAGR). Historical data indicates that South African tobacco supply has been decreasing by 1.3% annually since 1966. In 2023, South Africa ranked 33rd in the world for tobacco production, with Cambodia surpassing it at the same production level of 14,640 metric tons. Leading the global rankings were India, Brazil, and Zimbabwe, occupying the second, third, and fourth positions, respectively. On the consumption front, the proportion of daily smokers aged 15 and older in South Africa remained stable at 20.2% in 2020, unchanged from 2019. This stability contrasts with a longer-term trend, as the country's smoking rates have declined by 0.4 percentage points annually since 2005.
