1954

Philip Morris (Australia) becomes first affiliate of Philip Morris Companies Inc. outside of the U.S.

1955

Philip Morris Overseas is established as an international division

1957

The first Marlboro cigarettes manufactured outside the U.S. are produced following an agreement with Fabriques de Tabac Réunies in Switzerland

This manufacturing facility is subsequently acquired by Philip Morris in 1963

1967

Philip Morris Incorporated establishes Philip Morris Domestic, Philip Morris International (PMI) and Philip Morris Industrial, each responsible for three identifiable operations of its business

1972

Marlboro becomes the world’s number one selling cigarette

Volume reaches 113 billion units as international expansion accelerates

License agreement with Japan Tobacco to begin manufacture of Marlboro in Japan

1973

International cigarette sales reach 124 billion units, versus 123 billion in the U.S.

1977

Licensingtorg, representing the Soviet tobacco Industry, and Philip Morris International sign agreement for local production of Philip Morris International brands

1980

Philip Morris International opens its largest factory outside the U.S. in Bergen op Zoom in the Netherlands - today this factory is still PMI’s largest

1987

Philip Morris International is incorporated as an operating company of Philip Morris Companies Inc.

1989

Philip Morris International operating income tops US$1 billion for the first time

1990

Philip Morris International moves from Park Avenue in NYC to Rye Brook, NY, U.S.

1991

Philip Morris International volume tops 400 billion cigarettes

1992

Philip Morris International acquires a majority holding in state-owned Czech Republic Tabak AS for US$420 million in the largest single investment by a U.S. company in central Europe at the time

In the early 1990’s Philip Morris International participates in other state factory privatizations including in Kazakhstan, Lithuania and Hungary

1995

Philip Morris International opens first factory in Asia in Seremban, Malaysia

2000

Philip Morris International calls for regulation of the tobacco industry at the World Health Organization’s public hearings on the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control in Geneva, Switzerland

2001

Philip Morris International Operations Center transfers from Rye Brook, NY, U.S., to Lausanne, Switzerland

2002

Philip Morris International operating income reaches US$5.7 billion, a more than hundredfold increase on 1970

2003

Philip Morris International opens factory in the Philippines, PMI’s largest investment in Asia at the time

Philip Morris International’s product sales represent almost 14% of the global cigarette market outside of the U.S.

Philip Morris International acquires majority stake in Papastratos Cigarette Manufacturing S.A., the largest cigarette manufacturer and distributor in Greece

Philip Morris International acquires 74.22% of DIN Fabrika Duvana AD Nis in Serbia, as of December 2007 this holding was more than 80%

2004

Philip Morris International re-enters the market in South Africa from which it withdrew in 1986 because of the apartheid regime

2005

Philip Morris International acquires PT HM Sampoerna Tbk in Indonesia and Compania Colombiana de Tabaco SA (Coltabaco) in Colombia. Both are the largest cigarette manufacturers in their respective countries

Philip Morris International takes back license for Marlboro in Japan from JTI

Philip Morris International announces an agreement with the China National Tobacco Company (CNTC) for the licensed production of Marlboro China and the establishment of an international equity joint venture outside of China

2006

Year-end volume stands at 831.4 billion, operating income at US$8.4 billion and global market share at 15.4%

2007

Philip Morris International acquires an additional 50.2% stake in Lakson Tobacco Company, Pakistan, bringing its total holding to approximately 98%

Year-end volume stands at 850 billion, operating income at US$8.9 billion and an estimated global market share at 15.6%

2008

Philip Morris International spins off from Altria, becoming the world's leading international tobacco company and the fourth largest global consumer packaged goods company