Chewing tobacco has been a tradition in India for centuries. Of the total amount of tobacco produced in the country, around 48 per cent is in the form of chewing tobacco, 38 per cent as bidis, and only 14 per cent as cigarettes.

Thus, bidis, snuff and chewing tobacco (such as gutka, khaini and zarda) form the bulk (86 per cent) of India's total tobacco production. In the rest of the world, production of cigarettes is 90 per cent of total production of tobacco related products.

The per capita consumption of cigarettes in India is merely a tenth of the world average. This unique tobacco consumption pattern is a combination of tradition and more importantly the tax imposed on cigarettes over the last 2 decades. Cigarette smokers pay almost 85% of the total tax revenues generated from tobacco.

Industry Wish List Industry chambers favour that the specific excise duty structure based on the length of cigarettes should be maintained. Additional excise duty (AED) to be replaced /reduced if VAT is implemented. It would be illogical to charge both the AED and VAT. AED was implemented to collect tax on behalf of states. Since states would anyway collect VAT directly, there is no reason to charge AED. Specific policies should be announced to discourage smuggling of contraband cigarettes. The tax rebates on investments in tobacco plantations in backward areas should be continued. Custom duties to be maintained at 30.6%.  Budget over the years Budget 2004-05 Budget 2005-06 Budget 2006-07 Increase in excise duty on matches made in the mechanised/semi-mechanised sector from 8% without Cenvat credit to 16% with Cenvat credit Specific rates on cigarettes raised by 10% Surcharge of 10% imposed on ad valorem duties on other tobacco products including gutka, chewing tobacco, snuff and pan masala Excise on matches made by mechanized or semi-mechanized sectors reduced from 16% to 12%. However, no excise on hand made matches. Excise duty on cigarettes increased by 5%. Excise on unbranded other smoking tobacco and unmanufactured tobacco and tobacco substitutes at 16%. Tariff rate of excise duty on bidis increased. Excise exemption to small-scale smoking tobacco and tobacco substitute manufacturers restricted to Rs 1 m. Excise duty on all types of pan masala rationalized at 66%. [Read more on Budget 2004-05] [Read more on Budget 2005-06] [Read more on Budget 2006-07]
Key Positives Habitual industry: Despite high government intervention and campaigns against smoking along with high tax rates, the industry continues to thrive. Also, ban on smoking in public places and restrictive advertising has not stopped this industry from growing. Excise an easy pass on: Since it is a habit industry, companies find it comparatively easy to pass on excise duty hikes. Last year, the government increased excise by 10%, but it was easily passed on to consumers, without demand being affected. Per capita consumption ridiculously low: The per capita consumption of cigarettes in India is merely a tenth of the world average. Thus, as disposable incomes increase, people might shift from bidis to cigarettes and hence there lies a huge potential to convert. Being the No. 1 player in the segment, ITC is likely to be a big beneficiary of this change.		Key Negatives Heavily penalized through punitive taxation policies:  Cigarette companies pay roughly 50% of their revenues as excise. As a result, the share of cigarettes in total tobacco consumption has declined from 21% in 1981-82 to a mere 14% in 2004. Domestic cigarette companies suffer a double whammy:  On the one hand, they are barred from sponsoring sports and cultural events and on the other hand, contraband cigarette volumes continue to thrive. Net result, volume growth is sluggish. In the last 20 years, tobacco consumption in non-cigarette varieties has increased especially in the chewing format by 68 m Kgs, and reduced in the cigarette format by 21 m Kgs.

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