Tobacco Asia

46 tobaccoasia MANUFACTURING NEWS 制造新闻 Filtrona Thailand Achieves Safety Milestone Filtrona, a leader in specialty filter solutions, received an honorary plaque from Thailand's Social Security Office for its outstanding performance in reducing work-related injuries. The company's Bangkok facility has operated for eight consecutive years without a lost-time accident, highlighting its strong commitment to workplace safety and sustainable operations. At the awards ceremony on September 2, Surasit Nithiwuttiworak, secretary to the minister of labor, presented the plaque to Pitak Thongyu, general manager of Filtrona Thailand. "This accolade reaffirms our commitment in maintaining high occupational health, safety and environmental standards and fostering a safe work environment for our people," said Robert Pye, Filtrona c.e.o. "Filtrona is the only company in the Bang Khun Thian district and one of just 76 companies in Thailand to receive this recognition, which is a true testament to our team's unwavering dedication to safety and operational excellence." Pye added, "Safety remains the highest priority at Filtrona. We are dedicated to upholding industry-leading safety practices and full compliance with all OHSE standards as we work toward a safer, more sustainable future." Hidden Cigarette Factory Discovered in Italy Authorities in Ancona, Italy, uncovered a massive clandestine cigarette manufacturing operation, reportedly the largest ever discovered in the country, L'Unione Sarda reported. The Financial Guard found a 1,600-square- meter underground bunker equipped with a special hydraulic access system that concealed all manufacturing activities from outside view. Inside, investigators discovered three fully operational production lines capable of producing about 2.7 billion cigarettes annually—roughly 7.2 million cigarettes per day or 5,000 per minute. The warehouse contained more than 150 tons of counterfeit tobacco, over 170 tons of production materials, hundreds of thousands of filters, millions of cardboard boxes, and various technical equipment. Authorities estimated the facility's total value at €1.75 million (US$1.9 million). Investigators also found living quarters for workers, including 18 beds, bathrooms, showers, a kitchen, and a repair workshop. These facilities allowed employees to work in continuous shifts, enabling uninterrupted production. In addition, authorities discovered nearby warehouses used for storing counterfeit products. Officials seized two cars and four half-trailers containing counterfeit cigarettes valued at €620,000, while the estimated market value of these products reached approximately €47.4 million. Pakistan Sees Acetate Tow Smuggling Recent seizures at Pakistan's Sost border with China and the Torkham border with Afghanistan reveal new smuggling routes for acetate tow, the key raw material used in cigarette production. Officials say higher federal excise duty (FED) on imports has made smuggling increasingly profitable, raising concerns for the economy. In fiscal year 2024/25, the government set an adjustable FED of PKR44,000/kg (US$125/ kg) on acetate tow. The policy aimed to improve documentation and control in the cigarette sector, but weak enforcement has driven importers to evade taxes, boosting illicit trade. Trade data highlights the problem: recorded acetate tow imports fell from 2.36 kilotons in 2023 to just 0.145 kilotons in FY 2024/25. Despite the drop, local availability of duty-not- paid (DNP) cigarette brands has remained steady, signaling increased reliance on smuggled material. Alvarez & Marsal (A&M), a global profes- sional services firm, released an independent study on illicit cigarettes in Pakistan. Presented by Nick Hodsman, global head of anti-illicit trade policy at BAT, the report measured cigarette production capacity by tracking acetate tow imports. Filtrona's Bangkok facility has operated for eight consecutive years without a lost-time accident. Credit: Filtrona.

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