THAILAND
Daonoi Suttiniphapunt, the managing director of the state-run Thailand Tobacco Monopoly (TTM), said the agency is required to buy domestic tobacco at “unusually high prices.”
According to Suttiniphapunt, TTM is paying farmers THB22 (US$0.70) per kilogram, which is higher than the market price. Due to a drop in cigarette sales this year due to higher prices after an excise tax hike, Suttiniphapunt expects the TTM to buy 40% less tobacco this year.