Between 1990-1992, a yearly average of about 1,800 million cigarettes were manufactured, while 2,200 million cigarettes were imported. The latter increased to 2,500 million in 1994. Substantial illegal trade in tobacco with neighboring countries is reported, therefore, more than half the cigarettes consumed may have been illegally imported. An estimated 5,000 farmers were involved in tobacco production in 1990.
Most tobacco consumed is in the form of manufactured cigarettes.
At least half of smokers appear to smoke ten or fewer cigarettes per day. Per capita consumption of cigarettes has been fairly stable since the early 1970s, and was estimated at 1,100 between 1990-92. However, due to reported illegal trade, the reported number of cigarettes available for consumption, and hence consumption per capita, may be questioned. The tar contents of the two most popular brands were 18.2 and 21.4, with nicotine yields of 1.00 mg. and 1.87 mg. A 1991 drug use survey among persons aged 12-45 years reported very similar results in 10 cities of Paraguay.