煙草在線據《韓國先驅報》報道編譯　　韓國煙草巨頭KT＆G公司周三（2月8日）表示，由于持續的通脹壓力，它計劃暫時凍結其卷煙價格。

　　位于首爾的這家公司最近面臨著兩難的境地，即是否應該仿效它的規模較小的競爭對手，這些公司為了應對原材料價格和勞動力成本的上漲，從去年開始都進行了提價。

　　從周五（2月10日）開始，菲利普莫里斯國際韓國公司的卷煙將平均提價6.8%。其旗艦品牌，如萬寶路、國會和云雀的價格每包將上漲200韓元，達到2,700韓元（2.4美元）。

　　韓國第二大煙草商英美煙草韓國公司，和日本煙草國際韓國公司也普遍將登喜路、建牌、柔和七星和其他產品的價格提高了200韓元。

　　KT＆G公司的市場份額接近60%，它表示它已決定嘗試提高生產力，而不是“尋求暫時的銷售增長”，雖然它面臨著比外國競爭對手更大的成本負擔，因為它使用更昂貴的國內煙葉。

　　分析家們說，這三家公司為KT＆G創造了一個跟風的機會。但由于對居民消費價格可能的負面影響，以及對煙草公司計在20%——30%的高利潤空間的不斷批評，這家前國有壟斷企業對提價仍然猶豫不決。

KT&G to freeze cigarette prices "for the time being"

The Korea Herald
Feb 8, 2012

　　KT&G Corp., Korea's tobacco giant, said Wednesday it planned to freeze its cigarette prices for the time being, citing persistent inflationary pressures.

　　The Seoul-based company has recently been faced with a dilemma as to whether it should follow the lead of its smaller rivals, which relayed price hikes since last year to cope with surging raw material and labor costs.

　　Philip Morris International Korea is set to increase its cigarette prices by 6.8 percent on average starting Friday. Its flagship brands such as Marlboro, Parliament and Lark will be sold at 2,700 won ($2.4) a pack, up 200 won.

　　British American Tobacco Korea, the No. 2 player in the local market, and Japan Tobacco International Korea also raised the prices of Dunhill, Kent, Mild Seven and other products by 200 won in general.

　　KT&G, whose market share amounts to nearly 60 percent, said it has decided to try boosting productivity rather than "seek temporary sales growth," although it faces a greater cost burden than its foreign competitors because it uses more expensive domestic tobacco leaves.

　　Analysts have said the three companies created a chance for KT&G to follow suit. But the former state monopoly remained hesitant due to the likely negative impact on consumer prices and constant criticism over tobacco firms' high profit margins estimated at between 20 percent and 30 percent.

　　KT&G stocks closed down 1.3 percent Thursday at 76,200 won on downbeat sales growth prospects.