Swedish Match snus and moist snuff sales rose in the first quarter as the US market offset a slight decline in Scandinavia, the company said.

Operating profit for snus and moist snuff increased 2 per cent in the January-March reporting period to SEK 531 million (EUR 55 million). Sales rose 4 per cent. Stripped of foreign exchange influences, sales in local currencies increased 1 per cent.
Swedish Match said it met with US tobacco regulators in March to discuss the decision by the Food and Drug Administration to shelve the company’s applications to obtain modified risk status for snus products sold in the US. Swedish Match said it, “will continue to evaluate the best path for a revised application.”
The company lost ground in a Scandinavian snus market estimated to have increased 2 per cent in the reporting period. Market share in Sweden dipped 2.4 percentage points to 65.6 per cent, with both premium and value brands losing ground, the company said. Sales of chewing tobacco and cigars increased 13 per cent to SEK 1.1 billion and operating profit by 7 per cent to SEK427 million.