Eastern Company for Tobacco has reported an 11.7% rise in profits over the past nine months of the current financial year compared with the same period last year, amounting to a net profit of £E621.4 million. This suggests the sector remains financially healthy—regardless of the health of its consumers. The figures are particularly striking given two factors: first, the current crisis has barely affected the industry and, in fact, it has seen noticeable growth; second, the ongoing media and legal battles against smoking appear to be little more than a storm in a teacup. This development has reignited debate and scrutiny over the controversial industry, especially as Eastern Company for Tobacco has announced an 8% increase in production for the coming year. This will bring its total output to 81 billion cigarettes, distributed as follows: 64.7 billion for the local market, 15 billion produced for foreign companies operating in Egypt, 700 million in joint production, and 600 million for export.
Egypt has long been a key player in tobacco production and consumption, particularly since Ottoman influence took hold in the country—most notably during the economic stability and prosperity of the 16th and 17th centuries. Among the first Egyptian cigarette brands to achieve global success—especially after the opening of the Suez Canal and Egypt’s integration into international trade—was ‘Kiriazi Frères’, which was established in 1873. The deep-rooted link between Egyptians and smoking can be traced back to this period, when it was associated with Ottoman wealth and power, modelled by high-ranking politicians of the time. Later, the habit took on new meanings: the cigar became a symbol of western aristocratic influence, the cigarette became a class marker for the ‘effendi’ middle class, and in the mid-20th century, smoking became an act of youthful defiance against conservative elders. More recently, it has even been framed as part of women’s struggle for equality. Through these shifting cultural phases, smoking has become so deeply ingrained in Egyptian society that it now forms a key pillar of an industry seemingly immune to crisis.
Nevertheless, the People’s Assembly passed Law No. 85 of 2002, amending and complementing Law No. 52 of 1981, banning all forms of tobacco advertising and promotion. This was seen as a first step towards combating smoking, potentially paving the way for a complete ban in the future. However, this path is fraught with complexities and alliances, given that the state itself is the Middle East’s largest tobacco producer. A World Health Organisation report titled Tobacco Industry Strategies in Egypt and North Africa highlights the close coordination between tobacco industry lobbyists and the government on multiple legislative occasions when the Egyptian parliament was on the verge of passing laws restricting smoking. The report specifically cites events from 1993 as evidence of how fierce any battle over tobacco control is likely to be.
Now, even with advertising banned by law, the tobacco industry continues to thrive despite all challenges. Companies operating in the local market insist that they are ‘not targeting new smokers but simply meeting the needs of existing ones’. The average citizen may no longer see advertisements in newspapers or on television enticing them to smoke or portraying masculinity as incomplete without a cigarette. However, the tobacco industry in Egypt has found legal loopholes to market its products—such as strategically placing cigarette stands in cafés and similar venues. While these stands are technically for retail purposes and do not violate advertising regulations, the real trick lies in offering venue owners significant discounts, making cigarette sales an attractive source of profit. The latest tactic to circumvent the advertising ban involves targeting youth gatherings at major music concerts, arts festivals, and even sporting events, where cigarettes are sold to this demographic—Egypt’s largest consumer base. While this does not constitute a legal violation, the real manipulation is in who sells the cigarettes: attractive, highly skilled saleswomen, silently persuading customers that smoking is the most alluring thing in the world.
This article is originally published by AlBorsa in Arabic and later AI-translated by South Push.