Alliance One International tobacco sales dipped 6.7 per cent in the last three months of 2013 due differences in the timing of shipments, the company announced.

Operating profit at USD 50.1 million (EUR 37.1 million) was USD 800,000 higher than in the comparable quarter in 2012, Alliance One said. Sales during the reporting period at USD 654.6 million (of which tobacco revenue accounted for USD 621.1 million), compare with USD 699.1 million.
Volume and revenue should exceed the prior 12 months in the current fiscal year, which ends 31 March, the company said. Tobacco costs of sales fell 7.5 per cent to USD 550.9 million.
“The decreases in tobacco sales revenues and tobacco costs were primarily due to 7.1 million less kilos sold this year as a result of shipments from Brazil, Zimbabwe and China that occurred in the third quarter last year and were experienced in earlier quarters this year or have been delayed”, Alliance One said. “Due to a large increase in South American byproducts sold this year, average sales prices and costs per kilo decreased when compared to the prior year. Processing revenue and cost of services remained consistent with last year.”