Philip Morris and Japan Tobacco International have increased their cigarette production by 10.3 and 19.6 per cent respectively over the first five months of 2007 on a year-to-year basis.

The companies, which are two of the major players in the Ukrainian tobacco market, have produced 15.8 billion and 7.3 billion cigarettes since the beginning of 2007.Remarkable growth was posted for the month of April as well.
Previous reports relating to the first quarter of 2007 indicated production growth at the plants run by Philip Morris, Japan Tobacco International, Reemtsma and especially Gallaher, while BAT’s facility in Priluki posted an 18-percent decline over the first three months, following a similar decrease in 2006.