Effective January 1, 2025, the minimum price of a pack of cigarettes in Russia will increase by 4.6%, reaching 135 rubles, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. Additionally, the cost of heated tobacco products will rise by 4.5%, and vape liquids will see a 5% increase. In 2024, the minimum price for a pack of cigarettes is set at 129 rubles.
The announcement was made by Irina Fedina, Deputy Director of the Department of Food Industry at the Ministry of Agriculture, during the “Retail Days in Siberia” forum. Her statement was reported by Interfax.
βStarting January 1, 2025, minimum prices for tobacco products will be indexed. The Ministry of Agriculture will set a unified minimum price for these products at 135 rubles,β said Fedina. This marks a 4.6% increase from the 2024 price of 129 rubles. In comparison, the minimum price was 119 rubles in 2023 and 112 rubles in 2022, according to agency data.
Fedina further highlighted that the price of heated tobacco sticks will rise to 22 rubles, representing a 4.5% increase, while vape liquid prices will be indexed by 5%, as reported by RIA Novosti.
Price Calculation and Taxation
Interfax clarified that the minimum price is calculated based on the minimum excise tax rate set in the Tax Code as of January 1, 2025. This calculation also factors in the value-added tax (VAT) and a multiplier coefficient.
In July, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law indexing excise taxes on tobacco products. Under this legislation, excise taxes on cigarettes will be set as follows:
- 2025: 2,945 rubles per 1,000 units plus 16% of the maximum retail price, with a minimum threshold of 4,000 rubles per 1,000 units.
- 2026: 3,063 rubles per 1,000 units plus 16%, with a minimum threshold of 4,160 rubles per 1,000 units.
- 2027: 3,186 rubles per 1,000 units plus 16%, with a minimum threshold of 4,326 rubles per 1,000 units.
Proposed Ban on Tobacco Sales to Future Generations
In October, the Ministry of Health expressed support for a draft law that would ban the sale of tobacco products, nicotine-containing goods, and related devices, such as hookahs, to individuals born after December 31, 2009. According to Kommersant, the Ministry of Health emphasized its commitment to initiatives aimed at reducing nicotine consumption, including e-cigarettes. However, it noted that the draft proposal has not yet been submitted to the government for review.
This series of measures highlights Russia’s efforts to control nicotine consumption through price adjustments and regulatory initiatives.
