Lorillard Tobacco first-quarter domestic shipments rose 9.4 per cent in contrast to a 3.4 per cent decline for the US industry as a whole.

The increase in domestic wholesale shipments during the first quarter was helped by introduction of a non-menthol version of its flagship Newport brand, the company said.

Net sales rose USD 175 million (EUR 119 million), or 12.9 per cent, to USD 1.5 billion and net income rose USD 16 million to USD 248 million, according to first-quarter earnings released 26 April.

Expanded domestic shipping volumes, which includes Puerto Rico and US possessions, increased 9.5 per cent to 9.7 billion units.  Newport shipments rose 8 per cent to 8.1 billion units, Lorillard said. The company's US retail market share increased 1.5 percentage points to 14.1 per cent. (pi)