In the United States, 12 million Zippo lighters are produced ever year in the only legitimate plant making official Zippo lighters. Company officials estimate that up to 12 million counterfeit Zippo lighters are produced in factories in China every year as well.
Anywhere from 5 to 50 percent of all lighters sold as Zippos around the world are counterfeit, according to the company.
Zippo estimates that 30 percent of their market is affected by counterfeit lighters. The company’s revenue in 2003 was in the $140 million range. Utilizing the 30 percent figure, Havocscope estimates that the counterfeit lighter market creates a loss in the area of $42 million.
Counterfeit lighters impact Zippo’s market by up to 30 percent.