EU's cigarette production declined in 2017

Cigarette production in EU countries declined in 2017 compared to the previous year, according to the bloc's statistical office Friday.

"In 2017, over 487 billion cigarettes were produced in the European Union (EU), 40 billion fewer than in 2016," Eurostat announced on its website on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day.

While the amount of cigarette per EU inhabitant was over 950 in 2017, its production value in 28 EU members was around €4.9 billion.

Germany topped the list of producers with around 150 billion cigarettes, which accounted for 31% of EU production.

Poland came in second with 114 billion cigarettes, or 23% of EU production, while Romania ranked third with 70 billion, or 14%.

"These three Member States accounted more than two-thirds of the total production of cigarettes in the EU," it said.

Greece and Portugal followed the first three with 25 billion cigarettes each, or 5%, and Bulgaria came followed with 20 billion, or 4%.