More on Philip Morris International of the Future..

February 12, 2008 - More on Philip Morris International of the Future.. When Altria's international cigarette unit (PMI) gets its independence on March 28, 2008, it will move quickly to pursue sales more aggressively without ties to its American counterpart. Lausanne, Switzerland-based Philip Morris International has said that it would rank as the biggest non-governmental cigarette maker in the world, behind the state-owned China National Tobacco. The separation could shield PMI from U.S. legal and public relations issues, such as pressure by antismoking groups to curb sales in developing countries and a U.S. court decision in the so-called Kessler case that says PMI cannot use the "light" and "low-tar" labels to market cigarettes. Philip Morris International, which has operations in 160 countries, has a slew of tobacco products ready to take advantage of growth in emerging markets. It is selling the shorter Marlboro Intense in Turkey; a clove-based cigarette called Marlboro Mix 9 in Indonesia; Marlboro Filter Plus in South Korea, Russia, Kazakhstan, Romania and Ukraine; and the thicker Marlboro Wides in Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, France, Japan and Mexico. In Hong Kong, it is selling Marlboro Fresh Mint and Marlboro Crisp Mint. Philip Morris International reported 2007 gross revenue of $55.1 billion, compared PMUSA's $18.49 billion. Some related news briefs: January 24, 2008, December 10, 2007 and September 28, 2007.