IRISH smokers purchased 4.3 billion cigarettes from companies in the tobacco industry last year, new figures show. However, the growth of the illicit trade in cigarettes was the primary reason why there were 200 million less cigarettes sold by the industry in Ireland in 2010.
That is according to tobacco firm, PJ Carroll & Co, which maintained its 14.47% market share in the industry last year.
According to the company’s accounts for 2010, total market volume in the industry declined by 4.7% from 4.5 billion
cheapest Lucky Strike cigarette sticks in 2009 to 4.3 billion cigarette sticks last year.
The company’s directors’ report states: "This decline was primarily due to the growth of illicit trade."
The British-owned firm’s best known brands include Carrolls, Major and Rothmans and is part of the global tobacco giant, British American Tobacco.
