Swedish Match's share of the domestic snus market fell by nearly four percentage points to 70.8 per cent in the 12 weeks to 29 Dec due to competition from lower priced products, the company said.

Volume growth of low priced products in Sweden was an estimated 5 per cent in the fourth quarter, Swedish Match said. “While Swedish Match participates in the growth of the low price segment, its market share within this segment is lower than in the other price segments”, the company said.
Scandinavian shipment volumes were down less than 1 per cent due to contraction in the Norwegian market. In the US, moist snuff volume measured in can equivalents fell 3 per cent, the company said.
Snus and snuff operating profit declined 5 per cent to SEK 562 million (EUR 63 million), which included an operating loss of SEK 83 million for international snus expansion via the joint venture with Philip Morris International, SMPM International. Sales in the three-month period were down 3 per cent to SEK 1.25 billion, Swedish Match said.
Looking ahead to this year, Swedish Match said it expected both the Scandinavian snus and US moist snuff and snus market to grow.