Market research

Unmanufactured tobacco and refuse market in Asia

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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"Asia" region includes following countries:

China

Hong Kong

Japan

North Korea

South Korea

Macao

Mongolia

Afghanistan

Bangladesh

Bhutan

Sri Lanka

India

Iran

Maldives

Nepal

Pakistan

Brunei Darussalam

Myanmar

Cambodia

Indonesia

Laos

Malaysia

the Philippines

Timor-Leste

Singapore

Vietnam

Thailand

Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Uzbekistan

Azerbaijan

Armenia

Bahrain

Cyprus

Georgia

Palestine

Iraq

Israel

Jordan

Kuwait

Lebanon

Oman

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Syria

Turkey

the United Arab Emirates

Yemen

Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for unmanufactured tobacco in Asia fluctuated between 4.1 million tons and 4.7 million tons from 2018 to 2023. After reaching 4.7 million tons in 2019, the volume contracted to 4.1 million tons in 2020, stabilized around 4.2 million tons in 2021-2022, and then increased to 4.5 million tons in 2023. In value terms, the market expanded from $28.5 billion in 2018 to $37.4 billion in 2023, with a peak of $35.2 billion in 2021.

China's dominant role, through state-controlled production by the China National Tobacco Corporation (CNTC), significantly shaped regional supply. Imports of unmanufactured tobacco into China grew by 6.8% in 2024, reflecting sustained demand, while global factors such as shifts in international supply chains influenced trade flows throughout the period.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
  2. 4.1.2. In value
    1. 4.1.2.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.2.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.2.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.2.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Asia
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Asia in kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from China in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from China by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from China in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from China by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from China, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from China by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from China in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from China by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from China in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from China by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from China, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from China by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to China in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to China by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to China in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to China by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to China, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to China by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to China in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to China by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to China in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to China by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to China, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to China by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production unmanufactured tobacco and refuse in Asia

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of unmanufactured tobacco and refuse, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of unmanufactured tobacco and refuse, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2019, Asia's production of unmanufactured tobacco and refuse reached its peak at 4,389 thousand tonnes, with the largest annual increase of 11.9% recorded that year. However, by 2020, production had fallen to 3,902 thousand tonnes, marking a significant decrease of 11.1% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, overall production declined by 3.9%, which translates to an average annualized rate of 1.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Asia in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(3.4%)	11.9%	(11.1%)	(1.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Asia's production of unmanufactured tobacco and refuse, after two years of growth, experienced a downturn. In 2019, the value peaked at 25,306 million US dollars, with the largest annual increase of 35.9% observed that year. By 2020, the output value had dropped to 17,129 million US dollars, representing a substantial loss of 32.3% compared to the previous year.

Annual dynamics of production in Asia in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	7.9%	35.9%	(32.3%)	(0.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports unmanufactured tobacco and refuse from Asia

Exports in kind, K t

Following two years of decline, Asia's exports of unmanufactured tobacco and refuse saw an upturn. In 2019, export volume hit its lowest point at 268.4 thousand tonnes, with the largest annual decline of 23.3% recorded that year. By 2020, exports had risen to 329.6 thousand tonnes, showing a notable increase of 22.8% year-over-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 16.1%, corresponding to a compound annual growth rate of 5.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Asia in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(11.0%)	(23.3%)	22.8%	(5.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the largest buyers of unmanufactured tobacco and refuse from Asia were Belgium, accounting for 16.7% of exports in kind, the United States at 6.7%, and Egypt at 4.0%. Together, these three countries contributed 27.4% of total exports in kind, indicating a diversified country structure with no single dominant market.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Asia in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

Asia's exports of unmanufactured tobacco and refuse in value terms declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports amounted to 1,447 million US dollars, reflecting a moderate decrease of 6.5% compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports fell by 13.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Asia in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(0.6%)	(6.7%)	(6.5%)	(4.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the partner portfolio for Asia's exports of unmanufactured tobacco and refuse in value terms was quite broad. Belgium led with 18.0% of exports, followed by the United States at 9.0%, and Germany at 3.1%. Combined, these three countries represented only 30.0% of total export flows, highlighting a wide distribution across multiple markets.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Asia in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports unmanufactured tobacco and refuse to Asia

Imports in kind, K t

Asia's imports of unmanufactured tobacco and refuse in volume terms declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports stood at 552.5 thousand tonnes, showing a measured drop of 4.4% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 15.7%, equating to an annualized rate of 5.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Asia in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(5.4%)	(6.8%)	(4.4%)	(5.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Asia imported unmanufactured tobacco and refuse from many countries, with the largest sources being Brazil, Zimbabwe, and the United States. Together, these three destinations accounted for only 42.9% of total imports in kind, underscoring a diverse supply base.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Asia in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

Cross-border shipments of unmanufactured tobacco and refuse to Asia declined for the third consecutive year in value terms. In 2020, imports totaled 3,420 million US dollars, indicating a loss of 12.4% versus the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 18.8%, corresponding to an annualized rate of 6.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Asia in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(2.7%)	(4.6%)	(12.4%)	(6.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017-2020, the three largest markets for Asia's imports of unmanufactured tobacco and refuse in value terms were Brazil, Zimbabwe, and the United States. Together, they accounted for 50.4% of total import flows, playing a central role in the trade structure.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Asia in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io