선진국 중심으로 담배에 대한 규제가 점차 강화되고 있는 가운데 일부 다국적 담배회사들이 규제를 피해 생산력을 유지할 수 있는 곳을 물색하고 있다.
최근 말보로 등을 만드는 필립 모리스가 호주 빅토리아 주의 공장을 올해 연말까지 정리하고 생산 시설 전부를 한국으로 옮기겠다고 발표한 것도 이와 같은 이유다.
호주는 금연을 유도하기 위해 담뱃갑에 제조사명을 제외한 상표와 이미지, 로고 등을 넣지 못하게 하는 등 강력한 담배규제 정책으로 잘 알려져 있다.
또한, 지난 2010년부터 새로 바뀐 화재 예방 규정에 따라 호주에서 생산되는 모든 담배는 연소성분을 줄여, 스스로 꺼지도록 규제하고 있다.
필립 모리스 측은 호주 정부의 규제강화로 인해 현재 “(호주) 공장 생산력의 절반도 사용하지 못하고 있으며, 수출의 기회도 제한됐다”고 밝혔다.
반면, 한국 시장은 이에 비해 아직은 규제가 덜 까다로울 뿐만 아니라, 국내 생산공장들의 기술력과 생산 효율성도 높아 외국계 담배회사들이 주목하고 있다는 것이다.
필립 모리스 코리아 관계자는, “아직 구체적인 계획이 없어 호주 생산공장 이전에 따른 기대효과를 예측하기는 힘들다”고 하면서도, 현재 예상으로는 호주 생산 시설은 경남 양산에 있는 생산공장에서 맡게 될 예정이라고 밝혔다.
2002년 첫 준공된 필립모리스 양산 공장은 지난 2012년 새롭게 생산 시설을 2배 가량 늘려 증축, 현재 연간 400억 개비를 생산할 수 있다고 한다.
“이미 우리는 양산에서 생산된 담배를 아시아 일본, 대만, 홍콩 등 아시아 5개국에 수출하고 있다,”고 이 관계자는 말했다.
(코리아헤럴드 오규욱 기자)
<관련 영문기사>
Will Korea become a new tobacco manufacturing hub?
Philip Morris confirms decision to move Australia production to Korea
Stringent regulations and a growing negative sentiment toward cigarettes have caused tobacco companies in the world’s most advanced countries to keep their heads down and remain low-key.
In Korea, however, where regulations are relatively lax and a large part of the population is still very open to the idea of smoking, the situation is a bit different.
Perhaps encouraged by this difference, Philip Morris International, the maker of Marlboro and other popular cigarette brands, has recently decided to relocate its entire Australian cigarette production facility to Korea.
“We decided to cease cigarette manufacturing in Australia by end of 2014, and transition all Australian cigarette production to our affiliate in Korea,” the company said in a statement on last Wednesday.
Australia’s strict rules on tobacco products are the main reasons for the closure of the factory, which has been in operation for nearly 60 years, the company said.
The company blamed, in particular, the country’s new fire safety requirements, which require all locally manufactured cigarettes to reduce the ignition propensity for export products, saying that the rule forced the plant to make cigarettes that “didn‘t match consumer preferences elsewhere.”
In 2012, Australia also introduced the so-called plain-packaging scheme, which bans all company logos and colors from cigarette packs.
Advanced economies including the U.K. and European Union are now following in Australia’s footsteps to introduce more stringent regulation on cigarettes.
Some market insiders say if the Philip Morris transition proves successful, it will help improve the country’s position as a global hub for tobacco manufacturing.
An official from Philip Morris Korea, however, remained cautious on making any early prediction about the plant move.
“It is too early to tell the impact on the plant transition,” she said.
The global tobacco firm set up its own plant in Korea in 2002. The plant, located in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, was expanded in 2012 and is now capable of producing 40 billion cigarettes per year.
The official noted that the company’s existing plant in Yangsan is likely to be used for products shipped to Australia.
“We already export our Korean-produced products to five Asian countries, including Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore,” she added.
By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldcorp.com)
Will Korea become a new tobacco manufacturing hub?
Philip Morris confirms decision to move Australia production to Korea
Stringent regulations and a growing negative sentiment toward cigarettes have caused tobacco companies in the world’s most advanced countries to keep their heads down and remain low-key.
In Korea, however, where regulations are relatively lax and a large part of the population is still very open to the idea of smoking, the situation is a bit different.
Perhaps encouraged by this difference, Philip Morris International, the maker of Marlboro and other popular cigarette brands, has recently decided to relocate its entire Australian cigarette production facility to Korea.
“We decided to cease cigarette manufacturing in Australia by end of 2014, and transition all Australian cigarette production to our affiliate in Korea,” the company said in a statement on last Wednesday.
Australia’s strict rules on tobacco products are the main reasons for the closure of the factory, which has been in operation for nearly 60 years, the company said.
The company blamed, in particular, the country’s new fire safety requirements, which require all locally manufactured cigarettes to reduce the ignition propensity for export products, saying that the rule forced the plant to make cigarettes that “didn‘t match consumer preferences elsewhere.”
In 2012, Australia also introduced the so-called plain-packaging scheme, which bans all company logos and colors from cigarette packs.
Advanced economies including the U.K. and European Union are now following in Australia’s footsteps to introduce more stringent regulation on cigarettes.
Some market insiders say if the Philip Morris transition proves successful, it will help improve the country’s position as a global hub for tobacco manufacturing.
An official from Philip Morris Korea, however, remained cautious on making any early prediction about the plant move.
“It is too early to tell the impact on the plant transition,” she said.
The global tobacco firm set up its own plant in Korea in 2002. The plant, located in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, was expanded in 2012 and is now capable of producing 40 billion cigarettes per year.
The official noted that the company’s existing plant in Yangsan is likely to be used for products shipped to Australia.
“We already export our Korean-produced products to five Asian countries, including Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore,” she added.
By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldcorp.com)
