Some 28.7 billion cigarettes were produced in the country over the past Iranian year (ended March 20), said deputy minister of industry, mine and trade, Mojtaba Khosrotaj. As Eghtesad-News reported, the official added that 13.6 billion cigarettes were imported over the same period. Earlier, Iranian Tobacco Company - the country’s major cigarette manufacturer - announced plans to increase its production by 66% in the current Iranian year, ISNA reported. Based on statistics released by Iran’s Customs Administration, Iranians smoke 60 billion cigarettes per year.
