China’s tobacco industry increasingly important

The tobacco industry contributed more than Yuan1.1 trillion to China’s state revenue last year, 20.2 percent more than it handed over in 2014, according to a story in The China Daily citing official data from the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration.

The industry accounted for 6.49 percent of state revenue in 2014, and that figure is thought to have increased last year, though this will be confirmed only after the release of total revenue data

Despite government efforts to discourage smoking, tobacco sales are said to comprise an increasingly important source of revenue because of their steady growth.

China’s smoking population is said to have increased by 15 million during the past five years and now stands at 316 million, or nearly 30 percent of the population.

More than 50.0 percent of men and 2.7 percent of women smoke.