Smoking gets costlier: ITC hikes premium cigarette pack price

Smokers buying Gold Flake Premium cigarettes will have to pay more following a fresh price revision by ITC Ltd. The company has raised the cost of a 10-cigarette pack by Rs 10.

The latest increase takes the price from Rs 125 to Rs 135. It applies to regular-size filter-tipped (RSFT) cigarettes measuring 60-70 mm.

Market sources expect packs with the new MRP to arrive at warehouses by the fourth week of November.

ITC raises Gold Flake Premium prices for second time in 2026

The latest revision follows another price increase announced in June this year. At that time, ITC increased the price of a 10-cigarette pack from Rs 115 to Rs 125.

With two revisions in 2026, the price has increased by Rs 20 from its earlier level of Rs 115.

The price increase comes amid growing challenges for cigarette manufacturers following a major rise in taxes on cigarettes.

Net profit slides 20 pc, margin shrinks to 28 pc

Recently, ITC Limited reported a 20.1 per cent year-on-year (YoY) decline in consolidated net profit for the quarter ended September 30 (Q2 FY27).

The company posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 4,137 crore in the second quarter of FY27, compared to Rs 5,176 crore in the corresponding period of the previous financial year (Q2 FY26), according to its stock exchange filing.

Consolidated revenue from operations increased 1.8 per cent to Rs 18,401 crore during the quarter, from Rs 18,081 crore reported a year earlier.

ITC’s profitability came under pressure during the quarter, with margins contracting to 28 per cent from 34.6 per cent in the preceding quarter, as per its regulatory filing.

The company’s standalone business delivered growth across major segments, led by its FMCG operations.

FMCG remained the largest contributor to revenue, with segment revenue rising to Rs 22,503.30 crore in the September quarter from Rs 14,746.35 crore in the year-ago period.

Within the FMCG segment, the cigarettes business contributed Rs 15,536.13 crore in revenue, while the company’s non-cigarette FMCG portfolio generated Rs 6,967.17 crore.

The agri business segment also recorded growth, with revenue increasing to Rs 4,451.69 crore from Rs 3,976.24 crore a year earlier.

Revenue from the paperboards, paper and packaging business rose to Rs 3,015.85 crore compared with Rs 2,219.92 crore in the corresponding quarter of FY26, it added in its filing.

However, overall segment profitability weakened during the period. Total segment results stood at Rs 5,156.55 crore, down from Rs 6,320.72 crore reported in the year-ago quarter.

With inputs from IANS

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