Export A cigarettes are made by JTI-Macdonald, the Canadian subsidiary of Japan Tobacco International. White Birch Post carries Export A in its brand-name range, and the brand's roots go back to Macdonald Tobacco, a Montreal company founded in the 1850s.
Who owns Export A today?
JTI-Macdonald manufactures and markets Export A in Canada. JTI-Macdonald is part of Japan Tobacco International (JTI), the international arm of Japan Tobacco Inc. It's one of the three major cigarette makers in Canada, alongside Imperial Tobacco Canada (British American Tobacco) and Rothmans, Benson & Hedges (Philip Morris International).
JTI-Macdonald's Canadian brands include:
For the full picture of which company owns which Canadian brand, see our guide to who makes Canada's cigarette brands.
Where did Export A come from?
Export A began at Macdonald Tobacco in Montreal. The company was founded in 1858 by brothers William and Augustine Macdonald, and started out importing tobacco and making plug tobacco. William Christopher Macdonald went on to become one of Montreal's most prominent philanthropists, and his name survives on institutions such as McGill's Macdonald Campus.
How did the brand get its name?
Macdonald moved into cigarettes in the 1920s. Accounts differ on the exact year and the original product name, but the boxes were marked "Export", and that word stuck as the brand name. Export A has carried it ever since.
How did Macdonald become JTI-Macdonald?
Through two acquisitions. The ownership history runs like this:
- Macdonald Tobacco — family and then Stewart family ownership in Montreal for more than a century.
- RJR-Macdonald — R.J. Reynolds Industries of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, bought the company in 1974, and it was renamed RJR-Macdonald a few years later.
- JTI-Macdonald — in 1999, Japan Tobacco bought R.J. Reynolds' international tobacco business, and the Canadian company became JTI-Macdonald.
The Macdonald name has stayed in the company's title throughout, which is why you still see a Macdonald cigarette brand today.
Is Export A a Canadian brand?
Yes. Unlike du Maurier or Player's, which have British origins, Export A was created in Canada by a Canadian company and has always been primarily a Canadian brand. Ownership has passed to American and then Japanese parent companies, but the brand itself has been made for the Canadian market from the start.
That's also why Export A doesn't have a well-known international counterpart the way Marlboro, Pall Mall or Rothmans do.
How is Export A different from du Maurier or Belmont?
The main difference is the manufacturer. Here's how the three big brand-name makers line up:
| Brand | Canadian maker | Parent company |
|---|---|---|
| Export A | JTI-Macdonald | Japan Tobacco International |
| Du Maurier | Imperial Tobacco Canada | British American Tobacco |
| Belmont | Rothmans, Benson & Hedges | Philip Morris International |
All three sell blended tobacco cigarettes in regular and king size. Our pages on who makes du Maurier and who makes Belmont cigarettes cover the other two brands in detail. Comparisons between brands come down to history, maker and format — the maker doesn't change the health risks of smoking.
What formats does Export A come in?
Export A follows the standard Canadian formats:
- Regular and king size, roughly 70 to 73 mm and 83 to 85 mm respectively.
- Packs of 20 and 25. Canada requires at least 20 cigarettes in a pack; see cigarette pack sizes in Canada.
- Cartons of 200, made up of ten 20-packs or eight 25-packs.
The line is split into several versions, each with its own pack. The current selection is on our Export A product page.
Why does Export A come in plain packaging?
All Canadian cigarettes have been in plain packs since 2019. The brand name is printed in a standard font on a drab brown slide-and-shell pack, with large health warnings and no logos. Warnings on individual cigarettes were phased in from 2023. Read Canada's cigarette packaging rules for the full rundown.
Can I order Export A online?
Yes, if you're 19 or older. White Birch Post offers same-day delivery in Greater Sudbury on orders placed before the daily cut-off, with government-issued photo ID checked at the door. Orders to the rest of Canada, except Nunavut, ship by tracked Canada Post. Our guide to buying cigarettes online in Canada explains how it works.
The bottom line
Export A is made by JTI-Macdonald, the Canadian arm of Japan Tobacco International, and it grew out of Macdonald Tobacco, founded in Montreal in 1858. It passed through R.J. Reynolds before Japan Tobacco took over in 1999. You'll find Export A, Macdonald and LD in our brand-name cigarettes section.
White Birch Post sells to adults 19 and over only. Smoking is harmful to your health. If you're thinking about cutting back or quitting, our responsible use page lists free Canadian support services.