Seoul: KT and G Corp., South Korea's dominant tobacco company, has expanded its production facility in Turkey to boost its overseas sales. The expanded Turkey plant will serve as an export base for the North African and Latin American regions, the company said Monday. "The Turkey plant is a core overseas production hub that will lead our global business expansion," KT and G Chief Executive Bang Kyung-man said in a release.

According to Yonhap News Agency, KT and G seeks to boost its overall sales to 10 trillion won (US$6.86 billion) in 2027 from 5.86 trillion won in 2023, with half of its annual sales coming from its overseas business by 2027. The company earns about 80 percent of its sales from the conventional cigarette business and the remaining 20 percent from heat-not-burn (HNB) products. HNB products are electronic devices that, unlike e-cigarettes, contain tobacco. The tobacco is heated to a high temperature without setting it alight, creating smoke that the user inhales.

KT and G also wholly owns Korea Ginseng Corp., which sells ginseng and cosmetic products. It has production facilities in four countries -- South Korea, Russia, Turkey, and Indonesia. It is building its fourth overseas plant in Kazakhstan, with its construction set to be completed this year.