Shipping volume of Lorillard Tobacco’s mainstay Newport brand fell 1.6 per cent in the first quarter although domestic market share for the menthol cigarette rose 0.5 percentage points to 12.7 per cent, the company said.

Total domestic volume declined 2.6 per cent. Including shipments to Puerto Rico and US territories, volume decreased 2.3 per cent. There was one less shipping day in three months ending 31 March.
Cigarettes operating income without the impact of USD 143 million (EUR 110 million) from the agreement on disputed tobacco settlement payments rose USD 32 million to USD 431 million. Net sales dipped 0.4 per cent to USD 1.5 billion, the company said. (ci)