<strong>China''s Tobacco Industry in Favorable Development of Low-tar-level Cigarettes Production, Marketing in First 10 Months</strong>

The tobacco industry of China, under promotion of the policy of active development of low-tar-level cigarette products and increasing growth in consumer demand for the supply of low-tar-level cigarettes, registered favorable development of rapid growth in both the production and marketing of low-tar-level cigarettes in first ten months 2013.

From January to October 2013, the tobacco industry increased in both the production and marketing of low-tar-level cigarettes (with a tar level of 8mg or lower), with the output hitting 300 billion cigarettes (6 million cases), and among it, the output and sales volume of cigarette with a tar level of 6mg or lower reached near 31.5 billion cigarettes (0.63 million cases) and about 32.5 billion cigarettes (0.65 million cases). 

Judged by the situation of development of low-tar-level cigarettes production and marketing in China in first 10 months 2013, key cigarette brands were the leading forces in the development of low-tar-level cigarettes production and marketing. Of all the 35 low-tar-level cigarette brands in production and marketing, 27were key brands.

As far as the scope of production and marketing was concerned, the output of low-tar-level cigarettes of key brands reached 235 billion cigarettes (4.7 million cases), while the sales volume of low-tar-level of cigarettes of key brands reached 240 billion cigarettes (4.8 million cases), output and sales both accounted to 79 percent of the total low-tar cigarette output and sales.

From January to October 2013, both the production and marketing of low-tar-level cigarettes went up relatively sharply, 240 billion cigarettes (4.8 million cases) and 235 billion cigarettes (4.7 million cases) respectively, output and sales both accounted to 79 percent of the total low-tar cigarette output and sales.

From January to October 2013, judged by output of single brand, the top three brands, Huanghelou, Lanzhou, and Xiongshi were key brands. Judged by sales volume of single brand, the top three brands, Huanghelou, Lanzhou, and Changbaishan were key brands, and with the output and sales volume of Huanghelou and Lanzhou over 35 billion cigarettes (0.7 million cases). Enditem