By Isa Jane D. Acabal, Researcher
THE PHILIPPINES lost about P141 billion in government revenue to illicit tobacco trade in 2024 and 2025, with illegal vape products emerging as a major source of tax leakages, according to a report by the EU-ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC) and Euromonitor International Ltd.
The Philippines posted the third-highest revenue loss among six Southeast Asian countries covered by the study, after Indonesia and Malaysia, according to the report released on Monday.
Philippine government revenue losses reached about $2.46 billion during the two-year period, composed of about $2.06 billion from illicit cigarettes and $400 million from illegal e-vapor products.
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