SIGNIFICANCE OF BRICS IN THE GLOBAL TOBACCO SECTOR- A CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

The present paper is an attempt to evaluate the importance of BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) in global tobacco and to assess the impact of WHO-FCTC implementation in these countries. The study was primarily based on the time series secondary data on area, production and trade. The BRICS countries include three of the five top tobacco producers, two of the five top tobacco consumers, three of five top tobacco leaf exporters and two of the top five tobacco importers in the world. The findings from the present study revealed that WHO-FCTC has not made significant dent on reduction of global tobacco production and trade during first decade of its implementation. Besides, the comparison among BRICS countries and other major tobacco producing countries revealed an increasing trend in tobacco production in BRICS countries and contributing to one third share of global tobacco exports during the past 16 years. As the BRICS countries account for lion share in global tobacco area (55%), production (64%) and exports (35%) during past 16 years, the measures taken by these countries will contour the global tobacco sector. The future tobacco related policies in BRICS countries will have huge ramifications on the prospects of global tobacco sector.