![[ image: width=150]](/olmedia/220000/images/_224593_imperial_tobacco_logo2.150,JPG.jpg){kind=logo}
The group's profit advance was helped by strong growth in cigarette sales around the world, especially in Asia and Africa.
Internationally, operating profit leapt 48% to £117m. Overseas business now accounts for a quarter of the group's operating profit.
Imperial Tobacco also managed to increase UK profits, even though the group says that that high taxes are encouraging huge amounts of smuggling and bootlegging of products from abroad.
UK sales falling
Official UK cigarette consumption is continuing to fall, but Imperial Tobacco claims that the market is actually static or increasing when imports from continental Europe are taken into account.
Another rise in tobacco excise duty, which will lead to an increase of 21p on a pack of 20 cigarettes, comes into force on Tuesday.
Imperial Tobacco's chief executive Gareth Davies said a pack of 20 cigarettes will now cost at least £1.50 more in the UK than in continental Europe.
Mr Davies said the group has successfully integrated Rizla, giving it "the world's leading position in cigarette papers".
"The recent acquisition of the Douwe Egberts Van Nelle tobacco business... has further extended our international presence and provided the group with world leadership in the roll-your-own tobacco market," he added.
Christmas booze cruise crackdown
(19 Nov 98 | UK)
Cigarette giants in 'smuggling scandal'
(09 Nov 98 | The Company File)
Drug smugglers turn to duty-free
(12 Oct 98 | UK)
Microsoft trial mediator welcomed
Vodafone takeover battle heats up
Christmas turkey strike vote
NatWest bid timetable frozen
France faces EU action over electricity
Pace enters US cable heartland
Mannesmann fights back
Storehouse splits up Mothercare and Bhs
The rapid rise of Vodafone
The hidden shopping bills
Europe's top net stock
Safeway faces cash demand probe
Mitchell intervenes to help shipyard
New factory creates 500 jobs
Drugs company announces 300 jobs
BT speeds internet access
ICL creates 1,000 UK jobs
National Power splits in two
NTT to slash workforce
Scoot links up with Vivendi
New freedom for Post Office
Insolvent firms to get breathing space
Airtours profits jump 12%
Freeserve shares surge
LVMH buys UK auction house
Rover - a car firm's troubles