KUALA LUMPUR: Cigarette maker British American Tobacco (M) Bhd said profit from operations in the second quarter expanded by 23% driven by improvement in domestic sales volume.

       Net profit in the three-month ended jumped 31% to RM71.6mil, or 25.1 sen a share from RM54.6mil, 19.1 sen per share a year ago.

       Revenue was up at RM595mil compared with RM546mil previously.

       Profit from operations was RM107mil, BAT Malaysia said in a filing with Bursa Malaysia today.

       The group has declared a second interim dividend of 24 sen a share.

       "The Group’s share of market registered at 52.5%, increased by 0.2ppt versus the preceding quarter," BAT Malaysia said.

       "Dunhill remained strong and continued to hold the market leadership position with share of premium segment of 61%. The Group’s Value-for-Money (VFM) brands Rothmans and KYO recorded an increase of 0.3ppt to a 10% share of market," it added.

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