RJ Reynolds Tobacco (RJRT) market share was nearly unchanged in the third quarter, down 0.1 percentage point to 26.6 per cent in the US, as a strong performance by its Camel brand offset declines elsewhere, said parent company Reynolds American.

Camel shipping volume rose 3 per cent, representing 200 million sticks, to 5.7 billion units. Pall Mall declined 1.5 per cent to 5.5 billion sticks. The two growth brands represent roughly two thirds of overall volume, which declined 2.9 per cent, or 500 million sticks to 16.2 billion units. Overall cigarette industry volume fell 2.3 per cent in the reporting period.
Camel market share rose 0.4 percentage points to 10.4 per cent, the company said.
Santa Fe Natural Tobacco volume gained 7.9 per cent to 1.1 billion sticks in the three months ended 30 Sept. Moist-snuff volume at American Snuff rose 2.9 per cent to 120.1 million cans on the back of a 3.6 per cent volume gain by Grizzly to 108.7 million cans. Grizzly holds a 31.1 per cent share of the market, Reynolds American said.
Parent company operating income rose 2.7 per cent to USD 812 million (EUR 636 million), and would have been higher without litigation costs, the company said. Sales gained 4.9 per cent to USD 2.2 billion.