Rise in Cigarette Output

About 23 billion cigarettes were produced in Iran in the seven months to October 21, indicating a 53% rise compared with the corresponding period of last year, says Yadollah Sadeqi, an official with the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade. Imports during the seven-month period stood at 3.25 billion, down 60% year-on-year, he was quoted as saying by Mehr News Agency. Sadeqi added that cigarette smuggling declined by 35% in the period to reach 5.75 billion.