Swedish Match forecast higher volumes this year for Scandinavian snus and moist-snuff sold in the US, but a continuing decline in chewing tobacco.

Chewing tobacco shipping volume contracted 9 per cent last year, and by 14 per cent in the last quarter of 2016. Swedish Match did not quantify its 2017 forecasts. Sales at the company, which also makes cigars and matches, rose 7 per cent last year, yielding an operating profit of nearly SEK 4 billion (EUR 422 million), the company said. Operating profit rose 8 per cent, without the gain from selling a stake in Scandinavian Tobacco Group.
Snus volume in Scandinavia rose 2 per cent to 241.3 million cans in 2016, however market share in Sweden and Norway declined. US moist-snuff volume was down 1 per cent to 131.4 million cans.