British American Tobacco (BAT) Bulgaria said that it will relocate its production of cigarettes for the Bulgarian market.

The production will now be in Germany and Poland. Relocation was needed to manage the increased demand for BAT products in Bulgaria, according to Focus news agency. Viceroy and Kent brands will be manufactured in BAT’s Polish factory in Augustow. Pall Mall for Bulgaria will be produced in the German factory in Bayreuth. The cigarettes manufactured in the two factories will be the same as the ones that were previously imported from Romania. Bulgarian consumers show increasing interest in BAT’s products. Since January, the demand for Viceroy exceeded the initially estimated levels. A pack of Viceroy cigarettes is sold at BGN 2.00.
Foreign cigarette producers benefited from the removal of duties in the beginning of the year, thus directly competing with Bulgarian cigarette brands. Philip Morris has recently introduced a third brand, the Blue, Red and Silver editions of the L&M brand, and Gallaher will be introducing Austria Tabak-made Ronson soon. The increased competition has forced local tobacco monopoly Bulgartabac to cut the retail price of some of its mid-market offerings by BGN 0.10-0.15. (pi)