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http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/00d59d84-59ff-...z3QuVw39BJ
BAT reports decline in tobacco volumes as smokers kick the habit
Kadhim Shubber
Total tobacco volume worldwide fell 1 per cent in the nine months to September 30
British American Tobacco, whose brands include Dunhill and Lucky Strike, reported a decline in tobacco volumes, as smokers continued to cut back and rivals battled for market share.
Total tobacco volume worldwide fell 1 per cent in the nine months to September 30. The drop was driven primarily by falls in the Americas and Western Europe, which tend to have tighter restrictions on tobacco than in emerging economies.
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In Australia the company increased the price of its cigarettes in September following a rise in taxes that month. Two weeks later it reversed the price rise after rival Philip Morris International decided not to follow suit, undercutting BAT, which accounts for about 60 per cent of the market.
BAT faced similar “competitive pricing activity” in Malaysia, the company said in Wednesday’s interim statement.
“In the markets this year there’s been a few skirmishes,” said James Bushnell, analyst at Exane BNP Paribas.
A strong pound hit BAT’s results, with reported revenue down 9.6 per cent in the nine-month period. Stripping out the effect of currency movements, revenue grew 2.4 per cent, which missed consensus expectations of a 3.2 per cent rise.
The share price initially dropped 4.7 per cent, the largest fall for BAT since 2011. It later recovered to close at £33.75, down 2.6 per cent.
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