Illicit market dampener

BAT Malaysia managing director Jonathan Reed (pic) said B40 and M40 consumers especially will be facing financial pressures due to the prolonged movement control order (MCO), and these segments may turn to cheaper black market alternatives.

PETALING JAYA: Travel restrictions will continue to impact duty-free cigarette sales of British American Tobacco (M) Bhd (BAT Malaysia) and the levels of black market cigarettes in Malaysia is expected to remain high in 2021.

In a Bursa filing, BAT Malaysia said sales growth is dependent on the recovery of the legal cigarette market, a regulated nicotine landscape and a resolution to the affordability issues affecting consumers.