煙草在線據《煙業通訊》報道編譯　　泰國煙草專賣公司董事長Torsak Chotimongkol說，自從泰國兩年前取消稅務壁壘以來，泰國煙草專賣公司的市場份額就慢慢輸給了進口卷煙。

　　據《曼谷郵報》的消息說，泰國國產卷煙仍然占據著76%的市場份額，但到今年年底時，外國卷煙的市場份額可能會增加一個百分點而達到25%。

　　Torsak說，泰國煙草專賣公司正試圖收回被進口卷煙控制的中上收入人群的市場份額，與此同時，也保持自己在低收入人群中的根基。他說：“我們必須防止我們的市場份額被進口產品侵蝕，因為我們的利潤本來就相當薄。”

　　Torsak說，泰國煙草專賣公司的卷煙占市場的33%，合法進口卷煙占市場的12%，走私產品占10%，手卷煙占45%。

　　手卷煙因泰國國產煙葉品種享有稅收減免而迅速發展，泰國煙草專賣公司生產的煙草則按每公斤1000泰銖征稅。

　　去年，泰國煙草專賣公司的總銷量為360億支，收入700億泰銖，而今年的銷量和銷售額可能會與去年相似。

　　泰國副財政部長Tanusak Lekuthai說：“由于我們現在正試圖打入日本、美國和歐洲市場，樹立我們的品牌，如果泰國煙草專賣公司能擴大海外銷售的話，我們的銷售額可能會達到1000億泰銖。”

Thailand: TTM Wary of Decreasing Market Share

　　The Thailand Tobacco Monopoly (TTM) has gradually lost market share to imported cigarettes since the country lifted the tax barrier two decades ago, says director-general Torsak Chotimongkol.

　　Local cigarettes still claim 76 percent of the market, but foreign cigarettes are likely to gain one percentage point to 25 percent by the end of this year, according to a story in the Bangkok Post.

　　Torsak said TTM is trying to regain market share in the middle- to upper-income markets dominated by imported cigarettes, while also keeping its low-income base. "We need to protect our share from imports, as our margin is quite thin," he said.

　　TTM cigarettes make up 33 percent of the market, legally imported cigarettes make up 12 percent, smuggled smokes contribute 10 percent and roll-your-own tobacco comprises 45 percent, said Torsak.

　　Roll-your-own tobacco has gained rapidly as a result of the tax waiver for local breeds of tobacco, while the tobacco produced by TTM is taxed at 1,000 baht a kilogram.

　　Last year TTM had total sales of 36 billion units for THB70 billion, and this year will likely be similar.

　　"If TTM can expand overseas, our sales may reach THB100 billion, as we are now attempting to enter into Japan, the U.S. and Europe to build up our brand," said Tanusak Lekuthai, deputy finance minister. Enditem