THE globalisation of Asian tobacco companies should be of increasing international concern, according to a new study by researchers at the University of York.

Analysing the global business strategies of Asian tobacco companies in Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan and Thailand, researchers found that these companies have started to export their brands to rapidly growing markets in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Researchers say their success in global expansion will mean a further increase to the already six million deaths caused by tobacco use each year.

Dr Jappe Eckhardt, lecturer in politics and international relations at York, said: “Most attention of national and global tobacco control efforts is targeted at companies like British American Tobacco and Philip Morris, often referred to as Big Tobacco. However, our research shows this new group of Asian tobacco companies aims to gain market share across the globe through increased marketing, the development of new products and lowering prices... For example, the China National Tobacco Company (CNTC) is by far the world’s largest tobacco company but to date has been largely domestically focused. Consolidation has been followed by a strong commitment by the state-owned monopoly to “go global” over the next decade through exports, overseas manufacturing and leaf production.”