JTI sees challenging industry outlook Company worried about impact of illegal cigarette sales, cheaper local brands

KUALA LUMPUR: JT International Bhd (JTI) is expecting the industry to “remain extremely challenging” this year due to the continued sale of illegal cigarettes and the impact from certain local brands being sold below the Government-mandated minimum cigarette price.

The company, which has the second-biggest cigarette market share in the country, cited a recent Goldman Sachs intelligence report that stated that illicit trade in Malaysia was the second-highest in the world.