煙草在線據《商務標準報》報道編譯　　印度ITC公司可能將它一些卷煙品牌的價格提高15%。雖然該公司尚未正式提高價格，但經銷商和零售商似乎已經得知這一消息。

　　事實上，許多店主都要求消費者支付高于印刷在煙盒上的最高零售價格。

　　現在，一盒10支裝的Navy Cut牌卷煙標價為60盧比。但零售商們現在的售價為69-70盧比。一位零售商說：“我們已被告知提價了。有庫存的經銷商正按照更高的價格出售。因此，我們也要求消費者支付更高的價格。”

　　他補充說，印有新價格的包裝本周（12.22-12.28）開始上市。

　　ITC公司的發言人在被問到提價時說：“我們不會對價格調整發表意見。”

　　2013年早些時候，政府在2013-14年度財政預算中提高卷煙消費稅之后，該公司已經將卷煙價格提高了20%。一些邦，包括西孟加拉邦，已在他們的邦預算中提高煙草稅。

　　“這（價格上漲）將進一步增加盈余，利潤也將提高，但是在2013-14年度，銷量仍然存在壓力。預計僅在下一財政年度，銷量才會提升，”一高級分析師說。

　　他補充說，價格上漲不太可能影響消費。

　　在7-9月的這一季度，ITC公司卷煙業務的利潤率大約為32%。該公司在此期間的卷煙銷售額比去年同期增長10%，達到372.38億盧比。然而，分析人士對于卷煙銷量在2013-14年度第二季度同比下降5%感到失望，因為市場預期是下降2%。

ITC May Raise Cigarette Prices

　　ITC is likely to increase the prices of some of its cigarette brands by up to 15 per cent. While the company is yet to raise the prices officially, it appears dealers and retailers have already been informed of the move.

　　As a result, many shopkeepers are asking customers to pay more than the maximum retail price printed on cigarette packs.

　　Currently, a 10-stick packet of the Navy Cut brand is priced at Rs 60. But retailers are now selling these packets at Rs 69-70. "We have been told the price has been increased. Stockists are selling the cigarette at a higher price. Hence, we are also asking customers to pay more," said a retailer.

　　He added packs with the new prices would be available from next week.

　　On being asked about the price rise, an ITC spokesperson said, "We do not comment on price revision."

　　Earlier this year, the company had increased cigarette prices by up to 20 per cent, after the government had raised the excise duty on cigarettes in Budget 2013-14. A few states, including West Bengal, had raised tobacco taxes in their state budgets.

　　"This (the price rise) will further add up to the margins and realisations will get a boost. However, volumes will remain under pressure in 2013-14. An uplift in the volume is expected only in the next financial year," said a senior analyst at Sharekhan.

　　He added the price rise was unlikely to affect consumption..

　　ITC closed July-September quarter with a margin of around 32% in its cigarette business. The company's cigarette sales during this period had increased by 10% from year earlier to Rs 3,723.8 crore. However, analysts were disappointed as cigarette volume fell by 5% on a year-on-year basis during the second quarter of 2013-14 as against market expectation of 2% decline. Enditem