Japan Tobacco's (JTI) market share up in Japan in FY 2007 for 1st time since 1985..

April 24, 2008 - Japan Tobacco's (JTI) market share up in Japan in FY 2007 for 1st time since 1985.. JTI, the world’s third largest tobacco manufacturer and the only domestic producer in Japan, said on Thursday (4/24/2008) its domestic cigarette market share inched up 0.1 percentage point from the previous year to 64.9% in fiscal 2007, marking the first rise since the company’s privatization in 1985. JTI attributed the slight increase in the tobacco market share to sales promotions centering on its main brand Mild Seven series. Mild Seven has been the leading brand in Japan for 30 consecutive years, and is currently the third best-selling tobacco brand in the world. According to JTI, Japan consumed 258.4 billion cigarettes in the reporting year, down 4.3% from the previous year. The size of the domestic market has been on the decline due to increasing public awareness about health and tax hikes on tobacco products. (JT makes small, giant market share leap, Tobacco Reporter, 4/24/2008) JTI - Mild Seven news briefs: December 11, 2007, December 6, 2007, October 9, 2007, May 31, 2007 and May 12, 1999.