OREANDA-NEWS. Belarus’ privately-owned LLC Tabak-Invest, based in Minsk, increased the output of tobaccos by 18.8% in January-May 2013 to 3.049 billion pieces, an official with Belgospischeprom concern told reporters.

In May alone Tabak-Invest manufactured 580.455 million cigarettes, up 3.6% year on year and down 4.8% 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 74.8% of the Tabak-Invest output in January-May 2013 with 2.28 million units (up 16.7% on the year), and Imperial Tobacco Group brands accounted for 3.8% with 115.758 million units (down 47.8% on the year).

Tabak-Invest’s own brand output accounted for 21.4% of the overall output - 653.577 million (up 67.7%).

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