The Ukrainian association of tobacco makers, Ukrtyutyun, which incorporates all major cigarette manufacturers, posted an output of 84.7 billion cigarettes over the first ten months of the year, 1.5 per cent up year on year.

Remarkably, according to the latest statistical report, 39 per cent of the overall output was accounted for by Philip Morris Ukraine (Kharkiv tobacco plant), 25.7 per cent by the Reemtsma-Kyiv facility, 18.1 per cent by BAT-Priluki and 16.2 per cent by JTI Ukraine (cigarette making plant in Kremenchug). Thus, the alignment within the group of market leaders has remained almost the same with the previous year, with the only exception of Gallaher that had shown a decline in production at its Cherkassy facility and thus made way for JTI. Meanwhile, BAT’s plant in Priluki, although seeing a slack too, managed to hold its position. (vt)