While cigarette sales are expanding to new markets, industry market shares are consolidating, and the market is increasingly controlled by a few international companies. In 2001, a little more than 43% of global market sales were controlled by the five leading transnational tobacco companies (TTC). By 2017, 80.6% of the market was controlled by TTCs. Over the last decade, the international cigarette market has been dominated by five companies: China National Tobacco Corporation, Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco, Japan Tobacco Inc. and Imperial Tobacco.

China National Tobacco Corporation (CNTC):

is owned and operated by the Chinese government and is the world’s single largest producer of cigarettes with 42.6% of the global market. CNTC sells the majority of its product in China; just over 1% of cigarettes produced are exported to other countries. CNTC is increasing efforts to sell heritage brands such as RDG, Dubliss and Harmony internationally.

Philip Morris International (PMI):

is a publicly traded American company with headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. PMI controls an estimated 14.1% of the international cigarette market. Since separating from its parent company, Altria, in 2008, PMI only sells its tobacco products outside of the United States. The company operates in more than 180 markets and sells 6 of the top 15 brands, including Marlboro, the world’s top selling brand. PMI experienced declining cigarette volume sales in all regions between 2016–2017, as the company focused on expanding sale of its heated tobacco product, IQOS. IQOS has done particularly well in Japan and South Korea.

British American Tobacco (BAT):

is a publicly traded company based in London. BAT operates in over 200 markets, is the third largest company in the global tobacco market, and controls 11.8% of the international cigarette market. Top selling brands include Pall Mall, Rothmans, Kent, Dunhill, and Lucky Strike, and these five brands account for half of all BAT cigarette sales. Acquisition of Reynolds American, Bulgartabac, and other tobacco companies contributed to overall growth in volume and value of the company in 2017. BAT cigarette sales volumes grew strongly in Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Nigeria, and Gulf Cooperation Council countries, but declined in many other key markets.

Japan Tobacco, Inc. (JT):

is headquartered in Tokyo and the parent company to Japan Tobacco International (JTI), which is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. International tobacco sales account for more than 60% of JT’s operating profit.11 With products available in 130 countries, JT is the fourth largest tobacco company in the world, and controls 8.4% of the global cigarette market. The Japanese government holds 33.3% of JT’s issued shares.11 Top brands include Winston, Camel, Liggett Ducat, and Mevius (formerly Mild Seven). JTI continues to expand its presence in emerging markets, with the largest volume growth in Brazil, Egypt, Iran, the Philippines, and Tunisia, and company acquisitions in Indonesia and the Philippines in 2017.

Imperial Tobacco Group:

is a British company. It is the fifth largest company participating in the global tobacco market and controls 3.7% of the international cigarette market.3 Imperial operates in more than 160 markets, and key growth markets are in Italy, Russia, Japan, and Saudi Arabia. Top brands include West, Davidoff, John Player Special, and Gauloises.