煙草在線據《曼谷郵報》報道編譯　　自從上提消費稅上個月生效以來，由于自行卷制卷煙的吸煙者增多，泰國煙草專賣公司的卷煙銷量大幅度下滑。

　　泰國國有的煙草制造商泰國煙草專賣公司預計，未來數個月里，卷煙銷售將逐步增加，進而恢復到正常水平。

　　公司常務董事Torsak Chotimongkol說，在8月21日宣布提高煙草消費稅后的第一個星期里，卷煙銷量下降了70%。但這種情況在接下來的一周里得到了改善，卷煙銷量反彈到正常水平的一半，并且在上周（9.16-9.22）恢復到70%。

　　泰國煙草專賣公司預計，卷煙銷售將在幾個月后恢復正常。

　　Torsak先生說：“這是一種短期效應。人們不熟悉新的價格，所以他們轉向比較便宜的產品，例如手卷煙等。”

　　手卷煙市場一直顯示出取得重大發展的跡象，如今更是超過了泰國煙草專賣公司的市場份額。

　　泰國煙草專賣公司要求財政部因為公平競爭的緣故對手卷煙市場實施控制。

　　Torsak下先生說，泰國煙草專賣公司的統計數據顯示，與煙草消費稅率上提一致，手卷煙市場在過去10年里以每年33%的速度增長。

　　他說，盡管最近的影響只是短期的，但第三季度的銷量同比將會出現下滑，不過，由于價格上漲的緣故，總的收入將會增加。

　　泰國煙草專賣公司預計，主要在成本管理得到改善及價格因消費稅上提而上漲的支持下，去年的業績將會提高。

　　泰國煙草專賣公司去年的總收入為700億泰銖，凈利潤為50億泰銖，預計今年盈利增長到55億到60億泰銖。

　　Torsak先生說：“成本管理的改善是我們利潤率提高的主要因素，而煙稅上提也會支持今年的收益。”

　　“供應鏈管理是控制成本和改善運營潛力的一個重要組成部分。”

　　泰國煙草專賣公司于9月20日與TMB銀行簽署了供應鏈服務的協議。

　　對煙草專賣公司50萬個零售商的網絡支付系統的管理，將是供應鏈管理的第一步。

　　下一步是運輸領域、生產領域和物流領域。

　　根據這項與TMB銀行簽署的綜合供應鏈管理協議，運營成本預計將減少總費用的5%。

　　Torsak先生說，供應鏈管理是加強運營、提高產品質量、為東盟經濟共同體在2015年成立時出現的更大競爭做好準備的一個工具。

　　他說，一些東盟成員國已經對本國的煙廠進行了投資。

　　泰國煙草專賣公司正在洛察納工業園和清邁省興建兩家新工廠。

　　這兩家工廠目的是要提高質量而非產量。泰國煙草專賣公司將保持每年32億支卷煙的產量。

Thailand: Cigarette Sales Volume Dips

　　The cigarette sales volume of the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly (TTM) has declined significantly since the excise tax hike took effect last month as more smokers shift to rolling their own cigarettes.

　　The state-owned tobacco manufacturer expects sales will gradually improve and return to normal in the coming months.

　　Managing director Torsak Chotimongkol said the cigarette sales volume fell by 70% in the first week after the tobacco tax hike was announced on Aug 21. But the situation improved the following week, with sales rebounding to half of normal levels and then to 70% this week.

　　The TTM expects sales will return to normal in a few months.

　　"It was a short-term effect. People were not yet familiar with the new prices, so they turned to something cheaper such as roll-your-own (RYO) cigarettes," said Mr Torsak.

　　The RYO cigarette market has been showing signs of significant growth and now exceeds the TTM's market share.

　　The TTM demands the Finance Ministry control this market for the sake of fair competition.

　　TTM statistics show the RYO cigarette market has increased by 33% a year over the past decade, in line with the increase in the tobacco excise tax rate, said Mr Torsak.

　　He said despite the recent effect being only short term, third-quarter sales volume will be decline quarter-on-quarter, although revenue will improve thanks to higher prices.

　　The TTM forecasts improved full-year results supported mainly by better cost management and higher prices as a result of the excise tax increase.

　　It booked revenue of 70 billion baht for a net profit of 5 billion last year and expects the bottom line will increase to 5.5 to 6 billion this year.

　　"Improving cost management is the key factor in raising our profitability, while the tobacco tax increase will also support earnings this year," said Mr Torsak.

　　"Supply chain management is an important part of controlling costs and improving operational potential."

　　The TTM signed a contract yesterday with TMB Bank for supply chain services.

　　Management of the payment system of the TTM's network of 500,000 retailers will be the first step in supply chain management.

　　Next will be the areas of transportation, production and logistics.

　　Under the comprehensive supply chain management agreement with TMB, operating costs are expected to be cut by 5% of total expenses.

　　Mr Torsak said supply chain management is an instrument to strengthen operations and improve product quality in preparation for higher competition arising from the formation of the Asean Economic Community in 2015.

　　Some Asean members have invested in local tobacco factories, he said.

　　The TTM is building two new factories, in the Rojana Industrial Estate and Chiang Mai province.

　　They are intended to boost quality rather than capacity, which the TTM will keep at 3.2 billion cigarettes a year. Enditem