In September 2023, the total value of China's e-cigarette exports to Paraguay reached US$9.24 million, and the corresponding export volume was 175 tons.
However, Paraguay's population is only 6.78 million. Compared with Belgium, which has a population of more than 11 million, Paraguay's import value is about $1 million higher - Belgium is only 8.26 million yuan.
It is worth noting that not all e-cigarettes exported to Belgium are sold in this market. Belgium is an important distribution center for e-cigarettes in Europe, and its imported e-cigarettes cover important markets such as Germany and France. It can be inferred that Paraguay, which has a smaller population but larger import volume, may also be a transit station for e-cigarettes.
It is understood that Paraguay is one of the few countries in South America that has not implemented a ban on the sale of e-cigarettes, while neighboring Brazil is a large country with a population of 215 million and a huge e-cigarette market. However, due to the ban on e-cigarette sales, the country only imported US$4.21 million in e-cigarettes from China in September.
According to logistics providers, due to the huge Brazilian e-cigarette market but restricted by the sales ban, customs clearance procedures have become quite cumbersome. Normally, logistics companies tend to first transport goods to neighboring Paraguay and then introduce them into the Brazilian market through smuggling.
In media reports in Paraguay and Brazil, cases involving Paraguay smuggling e-cigarettes to Brazil occur from time to time.
Logistics providers said that in the South American market, only e-cigarettes shipped to Brazil will choose to pass through Paraguay first.
