[Intl-tobacco] Philip Morris, RJ Reynolds to Boost Production in Russia (fwd)

[Robert Weissman]

Philip Morris, RJ Reynolds to Boost Production in Russia
Source: Bloomberg News, Thursday, 1/27/00

Moscow, Jan. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Tobacco companies Philip Morris Cos., the
world's largest tobacco company, and RJ Reynolds Tobacco Holdings Inc.,
the No. 2 U.S. tobacco company, plan to start producing their
international brands in Russian plants next month to take advantage of low
manufacturing costs, the Moscow Times reported. Philip Morris plans to
begin producing Marlboro cigarettes in Russia for the first time since
1986 when its new $330 million factory open in the Leningrad region in
mid-February. RJR plans to begin production of Winston and Camel
cigarettes at its RJR-Petro factory in St. Petersburg next month, the
paper said.

Foreign tobacco manufacturers have invested about $1 billion in the
country since 1992, with nearly 80 percent of that going to the Leningrad
region and St. Petersburg.

(The Moscow Times 1/27 13 www.moscowtimes.ru)