
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 19, 1990                   TAG: 9004190334
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B9   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BRIEFLY

The value of tobacco exports doubled in the 1980s, contributing nearly $25 billion to the U.S. trade account during the decade, according to a study released Tuesday by the Tobacco Merchants Association of the United States. The report said exports increased to almost $5 billion in 1989 from $2.5 billion in 1980.

Faced with mounting losses and a huge debt load, one of New York's largest wine makers, Vintners International Co., has decided to sell its Taylor Wine Co. operation. Vintners is asking $100 million for the company.

Sony Corp. says it will invest $300 million to renovate part of a mothballed Volkswagen assembly plant in Pittsburgh to produce television picture tubes and, eventually, high-definition TVs.

by CNB