Régie to make cigarettes
for British American Tobacco

In negotiations to export international brands

Régie Libanaise des Tabacs et Tombacs (Régie) has signed an agreement with British American Tobacco (BAT) to manufacture Kent and Viceroy cigarettes in its plants.

Régie will produce 4,000 containers of cigarettes (comprising 500 cigarette packs per container) per month for BAT, according to George Hobeika, Secretary General of Régie.

BAT will supply tobacco and other materials, and manufacturing will be under its technical supervision. A pack of locally produced Kent cigarettes will have a retail price of LL2,500 ($1.65), and Viceroy at LL1,500 ($1).

Régie has partnership agreements with all international producers that are in the market: Philip Morris International, Imperial Tobacco, and Japan Tobacco International.

Régie’s total production capacity for all brands has reached 80,000 containers per month. The total monthly consumption of cigarettes is 85,000, according to Hobeika.

The local brand, Cedars, has a 60 percent market share.

“We are negotiating the possibility of exporting the international brands to neighboring countries,” Hobeika said.