Imps' sales damaged by Syria sanctions

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The troubled Middle East state is on the verge of civil war as President Assad attempts to crush a bloody uprising which has claimed thousands of lives. The European Union imposed sanctions on sales to individuals and businesses including Syria Duty Free, impacting sales of Gauloises and Gitanes.

Cigarette sales volumes fell 7% year on year in the three months to December 31, Imps said.

Alongside the problems in Syria, the firm also faced double-digit sales falls in Spain, which hiked cigarette taxes last year, and suffered in the US as it pushed through price hikes last October.

In the Ukraine, one of its major distributors ran down stockpiles, buying fewer cigarettes. Stripping out these one-offs, sales volumes were down 1%.

Imps' update also revealed the growing chasm between financially struggling smokers in Europe and stronger economies elsewhere. The firm's value brands increased share in EU markets but sales of luxury cigars leapt 14% in emerging markets as Russian and Chinese smokers splashed out.

Chief executive Alison Cooper said the group was "well placed" for 2012. The shares added 46p, to 2316p, or 2%.