KUALA LUMPUR – British American Tobacco (Malaysia) Bhd (BAT Malaysia) has confirmed that it will raise the prices of its cigarette products from November 21, 2025, in response to the excise duty increase announced in Malaysia’s Budget 2026.
The price adjustments, approved by the Ministry of Health, will see BAT Malaysia’s cigarette brands priced between RM12.40 and RM18.40 per pack, depending on the specific brand and variant.
Nedal Salem, managing director of BAT Malaysia, expressed support for the government’s “moderate” excise increase, noting that the last adjustment had occurred a decade ago. He emphasised that this move was appropriate given the current economic climate.
However, Salem warned that steep hikes in cigarette prices in the past have often led to the growth of the tobacco black market, which now accounts for 54% of total cigarette consumption in the country. He stressed that the illegal market poses significant threats to public health, safety, and government revenue.
“Throughout 2025, enforcement agencies have made remarkable progress in curbing the tobacco black market, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim recently stating that these efforts have saved the government RM15.5 billion over the past two years. The recent allocation of RM700 million to enhance enforcement is highly encouraging and reflects the positive impact of these actions,” Salem said.
He further reaffirmed BAT Malaysia’s commitment to supporting the government’s continued efforts to tackle this issue, and encouraged Malaysians to support legal products by reporting illegal cigarettes through the JomLapor website.
The revised prices for BAT Malaysia’s key cigarette brands are as follows:
Dunhill: RM18.20 (up from RM17.70)
Benson & Hedges: RM18.40 (up from RM17.90)
Peter Stuyvesant: RM16.70 (up from RM16.20)
KYO: RM14.00 (up from RM13.00)
Rothmans: RM12.90 (up from RM12.40)
Luckies: RM12.40 (up from RM12.00) – November 18, 2025