BAT, 7% global growth with “strong performances in Romania” | Progresiv
Cigarette producer British American Tobacco (BAT), present on the Romanian market, reported an increase of nearly 7% for group sales in 2016 compared to 2015. BAT’s income - at constant exchange rates - was last year more than 14 billion pounds (16.5 billion euros). According to a financial report released by the group, BAT Romania "reported a sharp increase in profit generated by good prices and increased volumes." 
Regarding BAT brands present in Romania, the best performances were those of Pall Mall and Dunhill, unlike Kent, which is in decline, according to the financial report released by BAT.
Within the group, Romania is part of the "Western Europe" region alongside countries such as Italy and Germany - the region that reported for 2016 sales of over 3.4 billion pounds (4.2 billion euros), up by 8.4% over the previous year.
Present on the local market since 1996, BAT is represented by three divisions: Trading, Operational and Shared Services. In Romania, BAT is the largest player on the market of tobacco products, its main brand being Kent, with a market share of 26% in the category - according to data available at the beginning of 2015. In November last year, the company announced investments 100 million over the next five years in the Ploiesti factory. The new investment project aims, among others, to start production of hybrid cigarettes, a novelty on the local market.
Recently, BAT announced development plans in Bulgaria as well, where the company has an agreement with the Bulgartabac cigarettes producer to take over Victory, Eva Slim and GD brands, in a transaction that exceeds 100 million euros, according to Reuters. With these acquisitions, BAT is expanding its market share in Bulgaria from 12% to 40%.
