The group, whose British brands include Lambert & Butler and Embassy, made a profit of �261m in the six months to March.

It also increased its lead in the UK and now has a 42.4% share of the market.

Chief executive Gareth Davis called it another record-breaking performance.

Profitable market

Sales in Britain are only part of the business.

The group reported that it had increased the volume of cigarette sales in the Middle East.

In Vietnam it now has an 8% share of the market and the Imperial brand has been launched in what the company calls "the profitable Taiwanese market".

The group also said it had just concluded its first investment in the Indian sub-continent through a joint venture in Bangladesh.

World number four

In a statement Mr Davis said: "Focus on sustainable international growth has seen positive results."

Imperial is about to complete its acquisition of the German business, Reemtsma, which owns the Davidoff and Peter Stuyvesant brands.

The deal will put Imperial at number four in the tobacco industry behind Philip Morris, BAT and Japan Tobacco.

Imperial Tobacco shares have outperformed the FTSE all-share index by 80% in the past year and the UK tobacco sector by 20%.

On Thursday the shares rose a further 52p to close at 1029p.