HM Sampoerna, the Indonesian cigarette maker, said total cigarette sales for the first half of 1997 reached Rp 1144 billion (US$ 271 million) against Rp 961.6 billion in the same period of 1996

First half results were expected to be poor because of lingering consumer resistance to price increases. The company said the highlights of the first half included a 66 per cent increase in sales for Dji Sam Soe filter and a “strong initial response” to its new A-International brand.