Belgium: Over Half of Cigarettes Now Foreign or Counterfeit, First Time on Record

Cimabel reports that 50.6% of empty cigarette packs collected in Belgium in Q2 2026 are non-Belgian or counterfeit, up from 44.4% at end-2025 and 33.1% a year earlier. The rise signals accelerating cross-border smuggling and illicit trade, likely driven by high domestic excise taxes. This matters as it indicates growing tax revenue loss and potential policy pressure for tax harmonization or enforcement changes.