Local tobacco companies plan to cut cigarette prices by 15 per cent to compete with cheap illicit product mainly entering the country from Syria, the Jordan Times reported.

An unnamed government official told the newspaper local companies have informed the Income and Sales Tax Department of the planned cuts. Shop owners told the Times the companies have all but stopped supplying cigarettes until the price cuts are announced. Government data show illicit tobacco products account for 40 per cent of the market, the newspaper said in a story on its website. (pi)