Philip Morris International (PMI) shipment volume dipped 1.5 per cent in the third quarter as cigarette demand declined in Asia, notably Indonesia, Japan and Pakistan, the company said.

Shipments of its flagship Marlboro brand increased 2.1 per cent to 74.2 billion sticks and L&M posted a 9.3 per cent gain to 26.2 billion sticks. Parliament volume fell 4.4 per cent to 12.3 billion sticks and Lark by 18.3 per cent to 7.3 billion units, PMI said. Total volume, 219 billion sticks in the third quarter, should decline 1-1.5 per cent for the full year, PMI forecast.
Operating companies income fell 12.3 per cent to USD 3 billion (EUR 2.6 billion) and sales by nearly 12 per cent to USD 6.9 billion, the company said. Adjusted for negative foreign currency movements and tax, sales would have increased 5.9 per cent in the three months ended 30 Sept, PMI said.
"Organic volume, market share and pricing trends remain very robust against the backdrop of an improved macroeconomic environment," said Chief Executive Officer André Calantzopoulos. "We continue to progress with the commercialization and clinical assessment of our reduced-risk product, iQOS."