JT Regaining Market Share

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 11/14/2011

Japan Tobacco Inc's domestic cigarette volume sales during October, at 9.5 billion, were up by 160.4 per cent on those of October 2010. The huge rise was the result of the unprecedented fall in volumes in October 2010 following heavy buying by consumers in September of that year ahead of a mainly tax-driven price hike on October 1, 2010. In October 2010, volumes, at 3.6 billion, were down by 72.0 per cent on those of October 2009. JT's volumes during April-October, at 60.4 billion, were down by 33.0 per cent on those of April-October 2010, reflecting the massive disruption caused to the company's manufacturing and distribution operations following the earthquake and tsunami of March 11. It was only in July that JT was able to start shipping all of its 73 products, and only in August that it was able completely to remove purchase order ceilings. April-October 2010 volumes, at 90.2 billion, were down by 1.6 per cent on those of April-October 2009. JT's net domestic cigarette sales in October, at ￥52.6 billion, were up by 157.4 per cent on those of October 2010, which were down by 61.2 per cent to ￥20.4 billion on those of October 2009. April-October sales, at ￥332.1 billion, were down by 10.6 per cent on those of April-October 2010, which were down by 0.2 per cent to ￥371.3 billion on those of April-October 2009. JT's market share was 52.0 per cent for April-October 2011, 58.2 per cent for October 2011, and 64.1 per cent for the full year to the end of March 2011. Enditem