The black market of cigarettes reached 10.4% of the total of consumption, in May this year, up by 9.8% in March, shows a study made by the research company Novel.According to data released by JTI on Monday, this is the highest level of smuggling since January 2020. The survey reveals that cigarette smuggling in May 2024 saw the highest increase in the Northeast, up 5.2 percentage points to 26.5%, followed by the Southeast (+2.6 percentage points to 7.4%), In terms of the origin of black market products, Duty Free continues to account for the largest share (36.3%), followed by the Republic of Moldova (up 7.4 p.p. to 23.3%) and Bulgaria (22.1%, up 1.6 p.p.). At the same time, the information centralized on the stopcontrabanda.ro platform, from the beginning of the year to date, shows that the authorities have seized some 34 million smuggled cigarettes, 75% of which in the south of the country. Compared to other European countries, there is a clear correlation between accessibility and the black market, with the highest rates in Ireland at 24.4% and France at 32.4%, according to the published statistics. In terms of penalties, in the first five months of the year, the Romanian Border Police seized about 1.3 million packs of cigarettes worth over 30 million lei. "During the period under review, border guards seized 6,300 kg of loose tobacco and 52 kg of hookah tobacco," said the inspector general of the Border Police, Police Superintendent Cornel-Laurian Stoica. Tobacco companies, big taxpayers, pay more than 20 billion lei annually to the state budget in excise duties, VAT and other taxes and contributions.
The service center for the banking Societe Generale Group, the Societe Generale Global Solution Centre, announced the appointment of Laurent Mirjol as Chief Executive Officer, effective June 1, 2025. The new CEO will oversee the activities and develop the strategy of Societe Generale Global Solution Centre Romania. With over 20 years of experience in the […]
During a press conference held on Monday, July 14, Romanian president Nicușor Dan defended the recent tax hikes enacted by the government, underlining the need to reassure creditors and lower the country’s public debt. Nevertheless, he said that the VAT increase was decided by the government. In the presidential campaign, then-candidate Nicușor Dan promised to
The famous Pompidou Center in Paris will organize a retrospective of the complete works of Romanian director Radu Jude between September 23 and October 11. The retrospective brings together films made over twenty years by the prolific Romanian director. The event will open and close with two of the most recent films, namely “Kontinental 25” […]
Romanian president Nicușor Dan presented the expenses incurred in the electoral campaign and who the main donors were during a press conference on Monday, July 14. Over the first and second rounds of the presidential elections, Dan's campaign spent over RON 60 million (EUR 12 million), and the biggest individual donors were Măriuca and Florin...
Haleon, a global leader in consumer health, has appointed Wael Kaskas as General Manager for its Hungary, Romania, Czechia, and Slovakia cluster. With a strong background in FMCG, consumer healthcare, and supermarket retail, Kaskas brings extensive experience in managing billion-dollar portfolios and leading business transformations, the company said. Before this role, Kaskas was responsible for […]
Vadoo Fest returns on August 21–24 to the meadows of Vadu Oii, Buzău County, with a new edition that invites participants to slow down and reconnect. Now in its seventh year, the festival promises a special experience rooted in nature, music, and human connection. This year’s line-up blends depth and groove, featuring Grammy-winner Judith Hill, […]
