Bulgartabac, the Bulgarian tobacco monopoly, has announced drastic cuts in the prices of 21 different cigarette brands as of 20 February 2007.

The move, which will reduce the total cost by some 15 per cent, comes as a counterstrike against the severe competition from foreign brands which have entered the Bulgarian market without import duties since 1 January 2007.
The cigarettes brands Sredetz, Prestige and Femina will sell for BGN 2 (€ 1) instead of BGN 2.30. The brands Arda, Verea, Melnik and Shipka will be traded at BGN 1.70 instead of BGN 1.85. The price of the most popular cigarette brand Victory will remain unchanged.
Victory, Prestige, Eva, Femina, and MM are the best selling cigarette brands abroad, including the Balkan countries, the Middle East and Africa, the company reports. (pi)