BAT Korea awarded for topping $400 mil. in 2020 exports

By Nam Hyun-woo

BAT Korea said Tuesday it received an award for achieving over $400 million in exports, and its executive won a presidential commendation for the company's productivity.

According to the tobacco maker, it held an award ceremony for the $400 million Export Tower award on Monday at its plant in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province. The plant has exported products worth a total of $409 million so far this year, up 13 percent year-on-year.

The award is supervised by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and honors companies and contributors that have surpassed certain marks in exports, thus contributing to expanding the country's outbound shipment. The award is presented by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA).

Along with the award, Kang Seung-ho, head of manufacturing at the BAT Sacheon Factory, received a presidential commendation for his contribution to increasing factory production, expanding employment and attracting exports. Kang joined BAT Korea in 2002, when the plant was established.

The company was awarded with the $300 million Export Tower award in 2018 and achieved $400 million in just two years.

BAT Korea began exporting domestically manufactured products to Japan, Russia, Singapore and Hong Kong in 2005. The factory has grown into BAT Group's production hub and export base, currently exporting about 80 percent of its products to around 15 countries.

In June last year, the Sacheon plant exceeded the cumulative production of 300 billion sticks, following a steady increase in production. This resulted in the company winning the export tower award 10 times since 2006.

“The achievement of the $400 million award and the presidential commendation are the result of the efforts of all BAT Korea employees,” Kang said. “We will continue striving to ensure that the Sacheon factory is positioned as an export hub and a core production site of BAT Group.”