Availability of Samuel Gawith, G & H, Rattrays-USA vs Europe

I don't know how many of you browse on the European websites for tobacco but I have noticed that while the popular brands mentioned in the subject title seem to be constantly out of stock for about, or over a year as of now, here; they seem to always be in stock in the Old Continent.

I am trying to figure out if this could be explained by an issue with: the US distributors; or if there is something else (maybe sinister?) at play, i.e. preference for sales is given to the European market vs the US as prices are higher, thus the manufacturers reap in more profit; or it's something else, related to the infamous FDA upcoming restrictions. But then, the FDA Boogie Man theory makes no sense as most of these blends have been produced for a long time....As for new packaging requirements, they are already imposed in Europe so it would not be challenging for the manufacturers to mention how nicotine (well, according to the FDA and all the anti-tobacco asstighted-can't-seem-to-have-fun-in-life-so-let's-take-out-on-the-smokers organizations) is such a devious and dangerous chemical on the tin.

As if all the preservatives and dyes in food; alcohol-yes, boooooze, unfortunately-; the way-overboard constant addition of sugar in anything and everything food wise in order to make you addicted, thus eat more and become overweight (I guess using 'fat' would be offensive to the overweight people?); avoiding people in real life and live in a virtual, fantasy world behind one's smartphone and laptop keyboards; that there would be something like 70 various gender identifications today, making more and more people more confused than they already are :crazy: ; as if all these are not bad for you but nicotine is really baaaad. And smokers, well everyone knows they're lazy 'cause they're always on a break, according to the bosses and little dictators-wanna-be-bosses-too. But I digress.

This (tobacco availability of these brands, that is) has been, well, bugging me a bit over the last few months.

Any thoughts/theories/conspiracy theories on this topic, gents?

Fair enough, Sean; but these brands have always been in stock with no major disruption for a long time (I have been buying tobacco online for 14 years); with the exception of Samuel Gawith that ran into a distributor problem about, what, 7 years ago, or so? And, all of a sudden, they are always out of stock.

I know some people really focus on hoarding tobacco but I don't think that can explain it in itself.

Maybe the European members could shed some light?

Thanks, oldgeezersmoker. :D

Without going into it too much, there's a finite amount of tobacco and a finite production capability. The scarcity on our side just reflects that as consumers we're competing with the enormous Chinese market, as has been the case for many luxury goods.

"Chinese spending represented 33% of the global luxury market in 2018" (compared to America's 22%). The tobacco is entering China's "gray market" via Europe. Manufacturers aren't too keen on advertising this point. A Chinese friend was in London and spoke to a fellow at GQ Tobacco about getting some samples of a new Germain blend for me and him. "Send to China? Sure, no problem. To the USA? Too risky."

With the retail tobacconists being constantly bombarded with requests to ship to China, and the fact that very easily the overwhelming majority of the Esoterica and Samuel Gawith tobacco sold on eBay is destined, not for the domestic market but for China, it was only a matter of time.

It's no coincidence that Germain's blends have almost completely disappeared from distribution here in the USA and yet consumers in China and (especially) Taiwan seem to be enjoying an uninterrupted supply.

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@greeneyes: where did you get that info? I am aware that China is the biggest producer of tobacco (cigarette tobacco, in majority). I am also aware that tobacco production in our western countries have significantly declined due to the anti-tobacco regulations, which has allowed the African and Asian production to increase. It would be interesting to see if western traditional manufacturers are already outsourcing their crops from these areas and what pourcentage it represents. And if, in the not so long term, they will move their production plants out there to satisfy demand.