News
E-Cig Global Business to Surpass $39 Billion by 2030
According to a report in PR Newswire, the key reason behind the steady growth of the global e-cigarette market, at a 9.2% CAGR between 2020 and 2030, would be the easy availability of these products. Read more
Malaysia Cig Smuggling Highest in the World
JTI Malaysia warns that the sales share of illegal cigarettes sold in Malaysia may rise to 70% by the end of the year. Currently, some say that the contraband rate there – at 62.3% -- is the highest in the world Read more
First IQOS Boutique Outside Duty Free Opens in the Middle East
The shop in the Dubai Mall in UAE carries the full assortment of IQOS products, including accessories, and also houses exclusive offerings and limited editions. Read more
Philippines: Probe of Foreign Anti-Tobacco Funding of Gov’t Tobacco/Vape Oversight Agency
There’s a call from the Philippines House of Representatives for a congressional inquiry into the acceptance of grants from anti-tobacco groups by the Philippines Food and Drugs Administration (PFDA) Read more
Plain Packaging Now the Law in Netherlands
According to government guidelines, plain packaging means dark green-brown packaging with: 1) the name of the manufacturer in a standard typeface; 2) information in the type of cigarette; and 3) the mandatory health warnings (text and picture) Read more
RELX Opens New BioScience Lab to Study Vaping Health Effects
Relx Technology, one of China’s biggest e-cigarette producer accounting for 68.8% of the total domestic market share, has unveiled a new bioscience lab in Shenzhen to study the health effects of vaping. Read more
Australia Reclassifies Nicotine as Prescription-Only Medication
Interim decision to reclassify nicotine as a prescription-only medication, meaning nicotine for use in e-cigarettes and e-juice containing nicotine becomes prescription-only from June next year. Read more
KT&G Takes Top Spot in Mongolian Tobacco Market
KT&G beat JTI to take the top spot in Mongolia’s tobacco market with a 34.2% market share in the first half of 2020, with its popular Esse super-slim cigarette enjoying 30% of the market despite being priced almost twice as much as local products. Read more
Cigarette Sales May End in 10-15 Years – PMI CEO
According to Calantzopoulos, over 11.2 million people have already switched to PMI’s main smoke-free product, and many more have switched to other smoke-free alternatives. Read more
IQOS Shop Opens in Manila; First in SE Asia
PMFTC Inc., the Philippines affiliate of Philip Morris International opened the first four IQOS stores planned for the Philippines, and the first such IQOS shops in southeast Asia. Read more
JTI’s Warns Global Law Enforcement of “Gathering Storm” in Contraband
Japan Tobacco International (JTI), in its published report titled "The Gathering Storm", revealed that illegal tobacco trade operate during the Covid-19 global pandemic and prepare to reap the rewards in the economic aftermath that will follow. Read more
Australia: Taxes Up Again; Most Expensive Place to Smoke
Last week, Australia raised cigarettes taxes by 12.5%. The second increase in a year now brings the average cost of a popular brand 20-stick pack to a whopping AU$40 or almost US$30 or around US$1.50 per cigarettes. Read more
ITShub Canceled
ITShub, planned to take place November 3-4, 2020 at Dortmund Exhibition Center, will not take place this year due to a worldwide rise in Covid-19 infections in recent weeks. Read more
Foreign Investment in India’s Tobacco Industry Proposed
A parliamentary panel recommended permitting regulated foreign direct investment (FDI) in India’s tobacco sector as well as establishing export-only tobacco farms to boost outward shipments and to provide benefits to farmers. Read more
Australia Rejects Heated Tobacco Products
Australia’s health regulator rejected an application from Philip Morris which would have allowed the sale of heated tobacco products. Read more
Study Says E-Cig Use Not Linked to Lung Injuries
A new study finds that higher rates of e-cigarette and marijuana use in US states did not result in more e-cigarette or vaping-related lung injuries. Read more
Exhibition Updates, Postponements, and New Offerings Due to Covid-19
Messe Dortmund GmbH, organizers of InterTabac and InterSupply, arguably the tobacco industry’s most important annual events, identified a need among its customers and developed a new concept to bridge the gap between now and the 2021 InterTabac. Read more
Nat Sherman, Legendary New York City Tobacconist Shutters
Founded 90 years ago, the eponymous tobacco shop will close permanently in September. Read more
Test Trials Imminent for Tobacco Plant-Produced Covid-19 Vaccine
Kentucky BioProcessing LLC, a biopharmaceutical company owned by Reynolds American Inc., awaits a response from the Food and Drug Administration to its pre-clinical trial testing. Read more
Failed South Africa Tobacco Ban Experiment Ends
South Africa’s government lifted its controversial tobacco (and alcohol) sales bans, ending a failed experiment in virus control. Read more