KAZAKHSTAN: KT&G completes construction of tobacco factory

Tobacco Journal International – 28. April 2025

KT&G has completed the construction of its tobacco factory in Kazakhstan, which will become a major production and export base for the company’s growing Eurasian markets, Korea JoongAng Daily reports.

The new factory in Almaty, Kazakhstan, can produce 4.5 billion tobacco products, including cigarettes, annually with its three production lines covering 52,000 sqm, according to KT&G.

It was part of the company’s investment announced in January 2023, with the aim of increasing foreign sales to 50 per cent of total sales by 2027. KT&G will also complete the construction of a plant in Indonesia next year.

KT&G will directly manage production, sales and retail for its tobacco products manufactured in its overseas plants to optimize profitability across the value chain, the company said.

The plant’s opening ceremony on April 22 was attended by over 100 executives and local authorities, including KT&G CEO Bang Kyung-man. “With the completion of our new plant in Kazakhstan, KT&G has laid the foundation for a global production system that will drive our competitiveness in international markets,” Bang said. “Going forward, we will continue to embrace challenges as we expand our direct overseas operations, enhancing both profitability and corporate value, and share the tangible results with our stakeholders.”