Market & legal data of the tobacco alternatives sector in Asia

How tariffs on US imported goods could impact the global nicotine industry

Written by Freddie Dawson | 21st March 2025

The imposition of tariffs on goods entering the US could have unintended knock-on effects elsewhere in the world, the most obvious being a general increase to prices, even in places not involved in current tariff...

GCC unified standard for electronic tobacco alternatives nears adoption

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 12th March 2025

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is moving closer to adopting unified regulations for electronic alternatives to tobacco products, with a final draft approved by the GCC Standardization Organization in January ...

JTI’s growth driven by Vector Group deal and expansion in reduced-risk products

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 14th February 2025

Japan Tobacco International (JTI) has reported its full-year and fourth-quarter financial results for 2024, highlighting steady progress toward its 2028 reduced-risk product (RRP) ambitions ...

BAT’s heated tobacco sales decline, but offset by strong growth in modern oral

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 14th February 2025

British American Tobacco (BAT) reported a drop in its heated tobacco category in 2024, partially offset by significant growth in the modern oral segment – particularly in the US ...

Can the US tobacco sector expect more stability under Trump’s second term?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 13th February 2025

Predictions on what president Donald Trump will do have always been difficult. But some indicators point to a second go-around of the Trump administration providing a degree more stability and predictability ...

PMI hikes prices amid Egypt’s economic instability but steps up its investment

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 11th February 2025

Philip Morris International (PMI) raised its prices for heated tobacco products (HTPs) several times in Egypt last year, following a similar trend from 2023 that is likely to continue in 2025 ...

PMI’s growth in 2024 powered by Zyn and Iqos as its smoke-free user base expands

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 6th February 2025

Philip Morris International (PMI) achieved positive results in 2024, driven by the expansion of its nicotine pouch brand Zyn as 2023’s demand acceleration continued alongside Iqos growth momentum ...

Will Trump’s first executive orders impact nic alternatives in the US and abroad?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 23rd January 2025

Nicotine alternatives have gone unmentioned through the initial flurry of actions taken after the inauguration of US president Donald Trump, but several executive orders and proposals will have an impact on the sector ...

Could 2025 be the year for heated tobacco regulation in Argentina and the EAEU?

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 16th January 2025

TobaccoIntelligence analysts make two riskier predictions: Argentina will move to legalise and regulate nicotine alternatives, and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) will take steps to regulate them in 2025 ...

Tougher laws, EU TPD3 and first-time pouch regulations: what 2025 may bring

Written by Freddie Dawson | 8th January 2025

TobaccoIntelligence predicts 2025 will be very important for nicotine alternatives, with key decisions to be made and regulation expected to become tougher overall ...

Did we get it right? TobaccoIntelligence’s industry predictions for 2024 reviewed

Written by Freddie Dawson | 31st December 2024

We look back at predictions TobaccoIntelligence published at the start of 2024 to see how well we did in calling events that would occur in the nicotine alternatives industry throughout the year ...

Nicotine alternatives were hit with bans in 2024, but markets continued to grow

Written by Freddie Dawson | 19th December 2024

The year that was 2024 saw the start of an inevitable regulatory pushback against increasing sales of nicotine alternatives, with multiple countries continuing to implement flavour bans on heated tobacco, and more restrictions on nicotine pouches...

Iraqi bill proposing legal ENDS definition could mark turning point for regulation

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 9th December 2024

An Iraqi bill that would define electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) – including heated tobacco devices – and bring them under the tobacco regime is now overdue for a vote ...

Heated tobacco and nicotine pouches lead the global shift to safer nicotine products

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 21st November 2024

A major new report shows a pivotal shift in the global smoking landscape, highlighting the growing use of safer nicotine products, such as heated tobacco and nicotine pouches ...

A look at trends and shifts in nicotine product regulations in Southeast Asia

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 14th November 2024

Southeast Asia is experiencing significant regulatory shifts in the tobacco and nicotine product sectors, as countries in the region adopt varied stances on products like heated tobacco, nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes ...

Disposables and single-use filters under increasing pressure from regulators

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 12th November 2024

Increasingly stringent regulation from environmentally conscious policy-makers looks set to put the vaping and tobacco industries under even more pressure with regard to disposable e-cigarettes and combustible cigarettes ...

Consumer demand for NGPs aids tobacco alternatives firms with strong Q3 results

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 8th November 2024

Three key players in the tobacco alternatives market have reported strong results in their most recent quarters, largely driven by performance in next-generation products as consumer demand is on the rise ...

JT delivers strong Q3 results, powered by Ploom sales and robust global expansion

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 31st October 2024

Japan Tobacco Group (JT) delivered a standout third quarter, fuelled by surging demand in its tobacco and heated products sectors and a significant global expansion ...

How Iqos revolutionised the Japanese smoking landscape in just a decade

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 30th October 2024

The November 2014 launch by Philip Morris International (PMI) of Iqos in Nagoya, Japan, and Milan, Italy, kick-started the heated tobacco sector, now worth tens of billions globally ...

Big Tobacco’s secret brand-building sauce spices up heated tobacco more than vapes

Written by Freddie Dawson | 24th October 2024

November will mark ten years since Iqos was launched in Japan. And as the third-quarter results of Philip Morris International show, the last ten years have been quite the story in the product’s global brand-building...

Strong NGP growth keeps Imperial in line with forecasts ahead of November results

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 10th October 2024

Imperial Brands reported trading in line with expectations, driven by robust growth in its tobacco segment and next generation products, as it prepares to give its full-year results in November ...

Banning tobacco sales to youth may curb lung cancer mortality, WHO study finds

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 9th October 2024

Policies that aim to create a tobacco-free generation may significantly prevent mortality from lung cancer across the world, according to recent research led by the World Health Organization ...

Malaysian industry mostly favours new tobacco law, wants guidance, lower costs

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 7th October 2024

Malaysian industry groups and health associations welcomed the enactment this month of a new tobacco law that includes heated tobacco, but they expressed concern about the lack of clarity on some aspects ...

Indonesia’s tobacco industry concerned over draft plans to standardise packaging

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 25th September 2024

After years of pledging to regulate e-cigarettes and tobacco products, Indonesia has finally taken decisive action. However, a move to tighten regulations on packaging has raised concerns among industry stakeholders ...

Global tobacco industry eyes EU as it pivots towards more sustainable filters

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 23rd September 2024

The tobacco industry is shifting towards making more sustainable cigarette filters. Innovation of this kind may soon find its way into heated tobacco products, driven by regulatory changes that could ban single-use filters ...

Global regulatory response to pouches and heated tobacco products ramps up

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 19th September 2024

As nations worldwide tighten their grip on nicotine pouches and heated tobacco products, a wave of regulatory changes is reshaping the market – driving industry adjustments and prompting further regulatory responses ...

JT’s acquisition of Vector Group in the US: strategic expansion or short-term boost?

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 22nd August 2024

While the acquisition of US tobacco company Vector by Japan Tobacco (JT) Group will add profit and cashflow to JT’s business immediately, its longer-term significance may be more strategic ...

Nicotine and flavour delivery innovations driving nicotine pouch evolution globally

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 15th August 2024

From innovative flavour formulations to extended-release mechanisms and eco-friendly packaging, the globally expanding nicotine pouch industry is undergoing a transformative phase ...

Big Tobacco pleased about growth but mum on impact from regulatory changes

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 8th August 2024

All Big Tobacco companies reported growth in their smoke-free segments, reflecting a trend towards diversification from traditional cigarettes, though none have addressed the regulatory environment and its potential impact on future earnings ...

JTI reports robust performance fuelled by Ploom in the heated tobacco segment

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 2nd August 2024

Japan Tobacco International reports it delivered a robust performance in the first half of the year, continuing its investment to expand its presence in the heated tobacco segment, with Ploom now available in 21 markets...

KT&G and PMI to work together for US FDA approval on heated tobacco products

Written by Freddie Dawson | 31st July 2024

Philip Morris International (PMI) will help KT&G on its US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs) for its Lil heated tobacco products ...

Southeast Asia regulatory round-up, July 2024

Written by Freddie Dawson | 26th July 2024

Expect a flurry of regulations on vaping and other alternative nicotine products in Southeast Asia over the second half of 2024. TobaccoIntelligence looks at regulatory developments in the region ...

BAT’s numbers buoyed up by modern oral segment, with significant growth in US

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 25th July 2024

British American Tobacco reported a drop in first-half revenue, offset by the continued growth of new categories. BAT expects new-category revenue to be weighted in the second half of 2024, driven by phased launches ...

PMI’s Zyn and Iqos see robust growth, despite supply issues and EU flavour ban

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 23rd July 2024

Philip Morris International recorded an outstanding second-quarter and first-half performance, with strong contributions from Iqos and Zyn – despite supply constraints and the EU flavour ban ...

Ditching smoking for ENDS products may improve oral health, Italian study finds

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 12th July 2024

Users of smoke-free nicotine products may enjoy better dental health than tobacco smokers, according to a study that found electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) to be associated with a lower accumulation of dental plaque ...

22nd Century set to fully launch VLN in South Korea after lessons learned in trial

Written by Freddie Dawson | 10th July 2024

US-based 22nd Century will move to a full roll out of its VLN brand very-low-nicotine cigarette products in the South Korean market, where it had previously launched a limited trial run ...

BAT’s Glo disappears from market in Malaysia, Philippines and South Africa

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 5th July 2024

The Glo heated tobacco device from British American Tobacco (BAT) appears to have been pulled from at least three international markets, where TobaccoIntelligence has noted that BAT no longer lists Glo as available ...

KT&G uses new fast-charging tech to revamp Lil Aible heated tobacco device

Written by Freddie Dawson | 2nd July 2024

KT&G has unveiled a new version of its Lil Aible heated tobacco device. The South Korean tobacco company highlighted the improved charging and pre-heating times of Lil Aible 2.0 ...

Sunak’s UK smoking ban on pause, not fast forward, but Labour may press ahead

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 29th May 2024

UK prime minister Rishi Sunak’s smoking ban bill is likely to be scrapped after it was not mentioned in the final business in the House of Commons following Sunak’s call for a snap general election...

Ploom X is the feather in JTI’s cap as reduced-risk products boost Q1 results

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 9th May 2024

Japan Tobacco International (JTI) delivered a robust performance in the first quarter of 2024, partly thanks to a double-digit increase in reduced-risk product revenue – driven mainly by the heated tobacco sticks segment ...

PMI’s smoke-free momentum continues to build in 2024, fuelled by Iqos and Zyn

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 24th April 2024

PMI continued reporting its smoke-free momentum in the first quarter of 2024, announcing 25% organic growth in net revenues and 38% in gross profit – with strong contributions from Iqos and Zyn ...

The evolution of novel tobacco and nicotine products over the last decade

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 5th April 2024

In this part of a series of articles celebrating the tenth anniversary of Tamarind Intelligence, we look at how heated tobacco, nicotine pouches and herbal heated sticks have evolved in the past decade ...

Oral products boosted Big Tobacco’s momentum in 2023, and HTPs still in play

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 27th February 2024

Nicotine pouches seemed to be the universal positive for Big Tobacco in 2023, with oral tobacco categories making increasingly important contributions to all the companies involved in that area ...

KT&G reports double-digit growth in sales of heated tobacco sticks for 2023

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 21st February 2024

South Korean tobacco company KT&G reported a positive performance in its next-generation product (NGP) business over the course of 2023, despite what it called “intensified competition” ...

Kazakhstan to introduce criminal liability for violation of the existing ban on snus

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 15th February 2024

Kazakhstan plans to introduce criminal liability to an existing ban on the import, production and distribution of snus. A vote by the Kazakh Senate still has to take place ...

Iqos may be losing share to rivals in the crucial Japanese heated tobacco market

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 15th February 2024

Market-leader Iqos, from Philip Morris International (PMI), lost market share last year in the huge Japanese heated tobacco sector to rivals British American Tobacco (BAT) and Japan Tobacco (JT), according to a local survey ...

Japan’s lack of support for HTPs at COP10 threatens harm reduction, says industry

Written by Freddie Dawson | 14th February 2024

Heated tobacco didn't receive any support from the Japanese government at COP10, and some stakeholders feared the entire premise of harm reduction and reduced-risk products could be under threat ...

Leaked document suggests New Zealand minister wants tax-free heated tobacco

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 12th February 2024

New Zealand’s new coalition government could be considering proposals to regulate tobacco products, as suggested by a document leaked to local press, including removing taxes from heated tobacco products ...

WHO reports drop in tobacco use despite industry ‘interference’ in achieving goals

Written by Freddie Dawson | 25th January 2024

Tobacco use continues to reduce globally, according to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030 ...

Herbal sticks are growing in popularity, but regulators might change their future

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 10th January 2024

Herbal heated sticks are spreading worldwide as a replacement for conventional smoking as well as an alternative to heated tobacco products ...

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