The slims/superslims segment of the cigarette market has been registering a yearly increase of up to 30 per cent and has grown threefold since 2004, reports the Web portal, Akcyz.

According to the data provided by BAT Ukraine, over 60 new cigarette brands of the 150 launched since 2004 belong to this segment. The segment was initially positioned as a premium one, but has now expanded to lower segments as well. Retail prices currently range for the two cigarette types from UAH 1.60 to 9 (EUR 0.25 to 1.30) per package. According to the market research group, Business Analytica, in 2006, slims and superslims accounted for 5.9 and 3.9 per cent of the Ukrainian cigarette market respectively.