Indonesian Cigarette Makers Defy Crisis

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 06/04/2009

Indonesia's cigarette manufacturers appear to be doing well despite the global economic downturn. According to a report in The Jakarta Post, the country's tobacco companies sold 11.5 percent more cigarettes in the first quarter of 2008 than they did in the comparable 2007 quarter. PT HM Sampoerna, the nation's biggest cigarette maker by volume, said its cigarette sales totaled 59.6 billion sticks between January and March this year, against 53.5 billion sticks recorded in the same period last year. British American Tobacco announced its sales volume was still growing even though Indonesia was still facing negative effects from the economic downturn. BAT president director Ian Morton said that the tobacco industry in Indonesia was more resilient than other sectors in confronting the crisis. Enditem