烟草在线据《商务标准报》报道编译　　印度ITC公司可能将它一些卷烟品牌的价格提高15%。虽然该公司尚未正式提高价格，但经销商和零售商似乎已经得知这一消息。

　　事实上，许多店主都要求消费者支付高于印刷在烟盒上的最高零售价格。

　　现在，一盒10支装的Navy Cut牌卷烟标价为60卢比。但零售商们现在的售价为69-70卢比。一位零售商说：“我们已被告知提价了。有库存的经销商正按照更高的价格出售。因此，我们也要求消费者支付更高的价格。”

　　他补充说，印有新价格的包装本周（12.22-12.28）开始上市。

　　ITC公司的发言人在被问到提价时说：“我们不会对价格调整发表意见。”

　　2013年早些时候，政府在2013-14年度财政预算中提高卷烟消费税之后，该公司已经将卷烟价格提高了20%。一些邦，包括西孟加拉邦，已在他们的邦预算中提高烟草税。

　　“这（价格上涨）将进一步增加盈余，利润也将提高，但是在2013-14年度，销量仍然存在压力。预计仅在下一财政年度，销量才会提升，”一高级分析师说。

　　他补充说，价格上涨不太可能影响消费。

　　在7-9月的这一季度，ITC公司卷烟业务的利润率大约为32%。该公司在此期间的卷烟销售额比去年同期增长10%，达到372.38亿卢比。然而，分析人士对于卷烟销量在2013-14年度第二季度同比下降5%感到失望，因为市场预期是下降2%。

ITC May Raise Cigarette Prices

　　ITC is likely to increase the prices of some of its cigarette brands by up to 15 per cent. While the company is yet to raise the prices officially, it appears dealers and retailers have already been informed of the move.

　　As a result, many shopkeepers are asking customers to pay more than the maximum retail price printed on cigarette packs.

　　Currently, a 10-stick packet of the Navy Cut brand is priced at Rs 60. But retailers are now selling these packets at Rs 69-70. "We have been told the price has been increased. Stockists are selling the cigarette at a higher price. Hence, we are also asking customers to pay more," said a retailer.

　　He added packs with the new prices would be available from next week.

　　On being asked about the price rise, an ITC spokesperson said, "We do not comment on price revision."

　　Earlier this year, the company had increased cigarette prices by up to 20 per cent, after the government had raised the excise duty on cigarettes in Budget 2013-14. A few states, including West Bengal, had raised tobacco taxes in their state budgets.

　　"This (the price rise) will further add up to the margins and realisations will get a boost. However, volumes will remain under pressure in 2013-14. An uplift in the volume is expected only in the next financial year," said a senior analyst at Sharekhan.

　　He added the price rise was unlikely to affect consumption..

　　ITC closed July-September quarter with a margin of around 32% in its cigarette business. The company's cigarette sales during this period had increased by 10% from year earlier to Rs 3,723.8 crore. However, analysts were disappointed as cigarette volume fell by 5% on a year-on-year basis during the second quarter of 2013-14 as against market expectation of 2% decline. Enditem