KYIV, Oct 3 – JTI Ukraine, a major cigarette producer, said that the illegal cigarette market in Ukraine doubled in January-June 2018, to 4.5%.

"The illegal market is growing. According to the latest report by TNS, the share of illegal cigarettes of the market is already 4.5%. The pace is alarming, since during this year the illegal market has more than doubled. We predict that if the government will not adhere to the eight-year plan and constantly plan something beyond the agreed, for example, an increase the excise duty by 30% annually instead of 20%, then the illegal market will grow further," JTI Ukraine CEO Paul Holloway said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.