JT Bounces Back in July

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 08/15/2011

Japan Tobacco Inc has made a remarkable comeback from the sales decline it suffered after its manufacturing and distribution were disrupted by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. In reporting preliminary domestic-market figures today, the company said that its volume sales during July, at 12.4 billion, were down by only three per cent on those of July 2010, 12.8 billion. The scale of the turnaround can be seen in the figures for June, when, year-on-year, volume sales were down by 27.1 per cent to 8.9 billion. And it can be seen in the figures for April-July 2011, which, at 30.8 billion, were down by 36.8 per cent on those of April-July 2010. JT's volume sales were already under huge pressure even before the tragic events of March following a steep price rise at the beginning of October that was caused by an unprecedented tax hike and a manufacturer's price increase. Meanwhile, according to the preliminary report, the value of JT's domestic cigarette sales during July, at ¥68.9 billion, was increased by 32.4 per cent. And these figures can be set against the year-on-year April-July figures that show the value of sales down 14.6 per cent to ¥169.0 billion. JT's market share during July was reported to be 62.1 per cent, against 47.4 per cent for the April-July period and 64.1 per cent for the full year to the end of March. Enditem