OREANDA-NEWS. Belarus’ privately-owned LLC Tabak-Invest, based in Minsk, increased the output of tobaccos by 32.5% in January-February 2013 to 1.228 billion pieces, an official with Belgospischeprom concern told.

In February alone Tabak-Invest manufactured 622.776 million cigarettes, up 12.6% year on year and 2.7% month on month.

Tabak-Invest manufactures Winston, Monte Carlo, Camel, Mild Seven, Magna brands under contracts with JT International (JTI); and West, Golden Gate, Imperial Classic and Stile (launched in Nov 2012) brands under a licence agreement with Imperial Tobacco Group.

The company also makes Korona, its own brand revitalized in August 2010. In December 2012 the company resumed proprietary cigarette brand Fort.

Production under contracts with JTI accounted for 73.3% of the Tabak-Invest output in January-February 2013 with 900.949 million units (up 32.2% on the year), and Imperial Tobacco Group brands accounted for 7.7% with 94.829 million units (down 9.2% on the year).

Tabak-Invest’s own brand output accounted for 19% of the overall output – 233.263 million (up 65.2%).

Tabak-Invest had its 2013 production quota set at 7 billion pieces (up 7.2%).