14.4 billion cigarettes sold, earning the state around $600 mln

A total of 14.4 billion cigarettes were sold in 1997, earning the state around usd 600 million, says the annual report of the state-owned "Regie des Tabacs." In 1996 14.6 billion cigarettes were sold, earning the state budget usd 615 million.

The turnover of "la Regie des Tabacs," the Moroccan tobacco company, reached $ 829.3 Million, registering an increase of 0.6 percent in comparison with 1996. The net profit is estimated at 381.6 million dh in comparison with 442.9 million dh in 1996.

Out of the 14.4 billion cigarettes sold in 1997, the company which employs 2,442 persons, produced 12.11 million ones and imported the rest.

The company added that the 1997 tobacco growing season was the best since 1985 and the second most important in terms of growth rate since 1989.

The area where tobacco is grown is 6,634 ha-large, up by 56.3 percent, giving a harvest of 8,425 tons, up by 29 percent in comparison with 1996.