JTI Ukraine, owner of the Kremenchug-based cigarette plant in Poltava region, made 3.5 billion cigarettes over January to March 2006, 26.6 per cent up from a year before.

All flagship brands have registered notable year-on-year sales growth, Winston by 39 per cent, Monte Carlo by 28 per cent, More King Size by 24 per cent and Camel by 13 per cent, reports Rustabak trade news agency. In 2005, JTI made 14.9 billion cigarettes in Ukraine where it holds the fifth position in the industry dominated by multinationals. Ukraine’s cigarette market is estimated at 75 billion sticks per year, but the aggregate local output has already exceeded 120 billion pieces, with export supplies showing persistent growth. (vt)