Japan Tobacco sales in Russia decline 8.6% in Q4 2013
MOSCOW. Jan 30 (Interfax) - Japan Tobacco International (JTI) saw cigarette shipments in Russia decline 8.6% in the fourth quarter of 2013 year-on-year due mainly to a contraction in the overall market estimated at 8%, JTI said in a press release.
Sales of global flagship brands (GFB - Winston, Camel, Mevius, LD) declined 1.2% in the quarter, JTI said.
The market contraction mainly impacted sales of JTI's mid- to low-price brands.
"We continued to gain total share of value and GFB share of market in Russia," the press release says.
Shipments in the entire CIS declined just 5.8% in the quarter and GFB shipments rose 1.3%.
JTI, the international division of Japan Tobacco, has four plants in Russia: Petro in St. Petersburg, Ligget-Ducat in Moscow, JTI Yelets in Lipetsk region and tobacco processing plant Kres Neva in Leningrad region. It owns the Winston, Mild Seven, Camel, Sobranie, Glamour and LD cigarette brands. Its brand portfolio in Russia includes Russky Stil, Petr I and Troika.