KT&G Surpasses 100 Countries in Overseas Expansion... Accelerates Leap to Global 4th Place by 2025

Achieving Expansion to 103 Countries with Customized National Strategies, Enhancing Global Influence

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] KT&G announced on the 7th that it has surpassed 100 countries in overseas expansion.

In particular, despite the difficult situation caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) last year, KT&G newly entered 23 countries through local non-face-to-face processes, achieving a total of 103 countries. In addition, by focusing on nurturing markets with high growth potential among the newly entered countries, the company achieved the remarkable feat of securing five countries with annual sales exceeding 100 million sticks.

KT&G is implementing a representative brand development policy by launching its global No.1 ultra-slim cigarette, ‘ESSE’, tailored to the characteristics of local markets. Through this localization strategy, ESSE has achieved the No.1 sales position in Mongolia. In Indonesia, the world’s second-largest cigarette consumer country, ESSE, which utilizes clove commonly used in local cigarettes, sold more than 4 billion sticks last year alone. Regular cigarette brands such as ‘BOHEM’ and ‘TIME’ are also expanding their presence by strengthening country-specific product lines.

Last year, KT&G strengthened its overseas marketing and sales capabilities by establishing five new departments and teams, including the ‘Global Marketing Department’, and by subdividing support organizations for overseas subsidiaries. Through these strategies, the company successfully pioneered markets in Africa and Latin America.

KT&G plans to expand distribution coverage by establishing additional overseas subsidiaries and pioneering new markets, while simultaneously promoting both quantitative and qualitative growth by strengthening local marketing in existing countries. To this end, the company will increase investments in sales, marketing, and manufacturing sectors to enhance its market influence.

President Baek Bok-in stated, “Despite the challenging business environment caused by COVID-19 last year, KT&G demonstrated resilience by actively capturing growth opportunities in overseas markets and strengthening business competitiveness,” adding, “To achieve the vision of becoming the global No.4 by 2025, we will accelerate overseas market development and rise as a truly global company.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.