Preliminary figures: JT’s financial-year cigarette volumes up 7.2 percent

Japan Tobacco Inc’s domestic cigarette sales volume during March, at 9.7 billion, was down by 3.6 percent on its March 2012 volume, 10.1 billion, which itself was down by 3 percent on that of March 2011, according to preliminary figures issued by the company.

Volume during the 12 months, April 2012-March 2013, at 116.2 billion, was up by 7.2 per cent on its April 2011-March 2012 volume, 108.4 billion, which was down by 19.5 per cent on that of April 2010-March 2011.

JT’s market share stood at 60 percent in March, at 59.6 percent during April 2012-March 2013, and at 54.9 percent for the full year to the end of March 2012.

JT has suffered huge domestic volume swings in recent times because of an unprecedented, mainly tax-driven price hike on October 1, 2010, and the massive disruption caused to the company’s manufacturing and distribution operations following the earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011.

JT’s domestic cigarette revenue during March, at ¥53.4 billion, was down by 4 percent on its March 2012 revenue, ¥55.6 billion, which was down by 3.4 percent on that of March 2011.

Revenue during April 2012-March 2013, at ¥639.5 billion, was up by 7.2 percent on its revenue during April 2011-March 2012, ¥596.6 billion, which was down by 3.3 percent on that of April 2010-March 2011.