JT's Sales Well Down But Improving

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 06/13/2011

Japan Tobacco Inc's domestic sales during May, at 7.2 billion, were down by 38.2 per cent on those of May 2010, according to the company's own preliminary figures. Although the May figure was, as expected, well down, it suggested that distribution channels in Japan are improving after the March 11 earthquake. Domestic sales during the April-May period, at 9.4 billion, were down by 60 per cent on those of April-May 2010. JT's market share during April-May 2011 was 34.4 per cent, but during the full year to the end of March it was 64.1 per cent. Even before the earthquake disrupted distribution channels, JT's sales had been hit by a huge tax and price increase on October 1. Enditem