Russian cigarette maker Donskoy Tabak based in Rostov-on-Don, the country’s largest independent tobacco manufacturer, made 7.9 billion cigarettes over the first six months of the year, 4 per cent less than a year before.

At the same time, 856 million cigarettes were produced for export, compared to just 15.3 million year-to-year. According to the company’s official press release, the plant’s brand portfolio includes 35 product names, 21 VEK, Donskoy Tabak, Nasha Marka (Our Brand) and Prima Dona being odds-on brands. Since last March, the company has been making a new brand, Continent, under the license of the British brand owner, Innovation Tobacco Co. With the establishment of DonTabak’s new distribution center in Ryazan and three storehouses in Russia’s center and north, the company intends to consolidate its presence on tobacco market throughout Russia. (vt)