Picture: Sanook

 

Many smokers in Thailand have been wondering why their favorite brands have disappeared from shelves since the start of this month.

 

This followed an announcement to changes in excise tax rates.

 

A source at the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly that Sanook did not name said the shortage was caused by a complete stop in production of local cigarettes on October 1st due to a belt failure in a piece of equipment.

 

Repairs were ongoing but staff had been given time off at this time. 

 

The source said that when the next lot was available - probably 15th - 16th October - their products would be sold at the new prices that would be higher than the last lot on the shelves on September 30th.

 

How much that would be would depend on several factors including market forces.

 

Meanwhile an Excise Department spokesman said that teams had been sent to investigate claims that cigarettes were being hoarded ahead of new price structures.

 

Natthakorn Uthensut couldn't say how much local or imported brands would cost as data was lacking.

 

But he confirmed that smokers would be paying more on about October 15th.

 

A smoker in the Pathum Thani/Ayutthaya area told ASEAN NOW that cigarettes had disappeared from sale in local shops.

 

They strongly suspected hoarding of old stock that would be sold later at increased prices thus enhancing profit. 

 

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I don't believe them about a production line failure.... and this is based on absolutely no knowledge whatsoever, bar the fact that this is Thailand.

8 minutes ago, webfact said:

A source at the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly that Sanook did not name said the shortage was caused by a complete stop in production of local cigarettes on October 1st due to a belt failure in a piece of equipment.

Good

 

''The source said that when the next lot was available - probably 15th - 16th October''

 

That's a shame

 

8 minutes ago, webfact said:

- their products would be sold at the new prices that would be higher than the last lot on the shelves on September 30th.

Good

Excellent news.  Maybe stop those ignorant, selfish people lighting up 3ft from my 5 year old daughter in a restaurant when she's trying to eat.

 

 

2 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Excellent news.  Maybe stop those ignorant, selfish people lighting up 3ft from my 5 year old daughter in a restaurant when she's trying to eat.

 

 

Of course restaurants (indoor) should be no smoking, so you could complain. I find many locals wander away from the tables to smoke at outdoor places too.

15 minutes ago, webfact said:

They strongly suspected hoarding of old stock that would be sold later at increased prices thus enhancing profit. 

of course that is the reason

As far as I’m concerned they can change 100 bucks each.

12 minutes ago, brucegoniners said:

As far as I’m concerned they can change 100 bucks each.

As long as you are willing to pay 100 bucks for a glass of your favourite beer.

54 minutes ago, webfact said:

A source at the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly that Sanook did not name said the shortage was caused by a complete stop in production of local cigarettes on October 1st due to a belt failure in a piece of equipment.

What bad luck , the belt breaking just before the price increase .

2 hours ago, webfact said:

They strongly suspected hoarding of old stock that would be sold later at increased prices thus enhancing profit. 

This is exactly what's going on. Delivery contracts have been broken, it's a free for all out there right now and everyone is screwing everyone else over.

 

 

 

Finally an answer why my LM green small 60B cigarettes were out of stock all the time.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

A source at the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly that Sanook did not name said the shortage was caused by a complete stop in production of local cigarettes on October 1st due to a belt failure in a piece of equipment.

Hoarding pure and simple, but for the manufacturer to do it so blatantly someone should be held accountable.

Siting a 15 day belt repair is ludicrous.

3 hours ago, jacko45k said:

I don't believe them about a production line failure.... and this is based on absolutely no knowledge whatsoever, bar the fact that this is Thailand.

So the factory only has one production line and that takes 15 days to repair a belt?

Lies.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

This followed an announcement to changes in excise tax rates.

The cabinet agreed on 28 Sept to increase tax on cigarettes from 20% to 25%
At present, a 20% tax rate is applied to the retail price for cigarette packs costing up to 60 baht.

If the retail price exceeds 60 baht per pack, a 40% tax rate is applied. 
It was expected to take affect on 1st Oct.

6 hours ago, jacko45k said:

I don't believe them about a production line failure.... and this is based on absolutely no knowledge whatsoever, bar the fact that this is Thailand.

Amazing that will be fixed about 15th of the month.

god just gave you a sign to quit, disobey him and you will pay the price

2 hours ago, vinci said:

god just gave you a sign to quit, disobey him and you will pay the price

What does he smoke?

11 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

in a restaurant when she's trying to eat.

 

I’m a smoker and agree do not smoke around others ... be polite and use common sense..

in California ...

 

California law that took effect in January 2008, it unlawful for a person to smoke a pipe, cigar or cigarette in a motor vehicle, whether moving or parked, in which any one of the occupants is a minor.

12 hours ago, webfact said:

Many smokers in Thailand have been wondering why their favorite brands have disappeared from shelves since the start of this month.

Not really. The price hike and the shortage coinciding made the reason pretty obvious to most. Some may have been surprised by the blatancy of it, I suppose, not me though, TIT.

11 hours ago, overt2016 said:

Amazing that will be fixed about 15th of the month.

Yes, another experience I have of Thailand is things take time to get fixed (water for eg...although the electric company does very well)....... Again I am amazed how barefaced lies are pumped out here straight-faced. 

The true face of Thailand shinning through.

Money number 1.

14 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Hoarding pure and simple, but for the manufacturer to do it so blatantly someone should be held accountable.

Siting a 15 day belt repair is ludicrous.

whats  ludicrous  is  them  making  out  only one  factory  makes  cigarettes

35 minutes ago, Rampant Rabbit said:

whats  ludicrous  is  them  making  out  only one  factory  makes  cigarettes

Or that the factory has only one production line.

I haven't smoked in 40 years,

So I could care less.  Perhaps this might be an opportunity and motivation to give it up.

Best thing I ever did!! 

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

Yes, another experience I have of Thailand is things take time to get fixed (water for eg...although the electric company does very well)....... Again I am amazed how barefaced lies are pumped out here straight-faced. 

Only being economical with the truth.

The factory is only 3 years old, surprised a busted belt would shut the place down for 2 weeks.

18 hours ago, ukrules said:

This is exactly what's going on. Delivery contracts have been broken, it's a free for all out there right now and everyone is screwing everyone else over.

 

 

 

You mean they are Thai'ing each other? Shocking!

17 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Hoarding pure and simple, but for the manufacturer to do it so blatantly someone should be held accountable.

Siting a 15 day belt repair is ludicrous.

That's what I thought. I am actually quite familiar with TAOT's new factory in Ayutthaya. It's huge and the manufacturing equipment is state-of-the art. There are several production lines. So to claim that a single belt malfunctioning is responsible for a nationwide shortage of cigarettes is a quite inept, unimaginative excuse. They are hoarding in anticipation of the upcoming excise tax increase, pure and simple.  

I used to smoke pencil sharpener shavings rolled up in newspaper as a kid, it worked for me, the graphite was a bit rough on the throat, where there’s a will there’s a way and still alive at 69. ????

Switched to roll-ups for the interim, a little talent I developed in my youth. If I stick with them I'm gonna save a fortune. As an aside, it's interesting that non/ex-smokers read this article and feel obliged to comment; if I didn't smoke it would have zero interest for me.