Tobacco net revenue increased 2 per cent, helped by robust sales of premium cigarette brands, although volume dipped one per cent in the three months to 31 Dec, Imperial Tobacco said.

“Growth momentum in key markets in Africa and the Middle East and Asia-Pacific is being offset by the current adverse market dynamics in Europe, with increasing levels of illicit trade,” Chief Executive Officer Alison Cooper said in a statement on 30 Jan.
Key cigarette brand revenue from Davidoff, Gauloises, West and JPS rose 12 per cent as volume increased 12 per cent. Imperial said it estimated stick-equivalent volume (including stick equivalency for non-cigarette products) in the European Union is down 5 per cent and cigarettes down 7 per cent, stripped of the impact of black-market trade.
Worldwide fine-cut sales and volume both increased 9 per cent. Snus revenue growth was 40 per cent with volume up by one third over the comparable three months in 2011, Imperial said.
Cost optimization to fund continued investment and offset trends in the European market will continue, the company said. (ci)