Market & legal data of the tobacco alternatives sector in Asia

BAT predicts 7% shrinkage of HnB, pushes back next-gen revenue goal

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 10th June 2020

British American Tobacco (BAT) is pushing back to 2025 its goal of £5bn in revenues from its next-generation portfolio amid the COVID-19 pandemic and a decrease in heat-not-burn (HnB) business ...

Proposed regulation in Taiwan leaves room for interpretation over HnB

Written by Marija Obradovic | 8th June 2020

The Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare has released a draft proposal amending the country’s Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act which leaves the regulation of heated tobacco still in a state of uncertainty ...

Price war in Japan as JT battles against IQOS dominance of the HnB market

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 3rd June 2020

Japan Tobacco (JT) and Philip Morris International (PMI) are cutting the prices of their heat-not-burn (HnB) devices in Japan and planning new product launches amid the coronavirus pandemic ...

Indian state of Uttar Pradesh partially lifts ban on nicotine-free pan masala

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 26th May 2020

India’s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, has partially lifted its ban on the oral product pan masala following industry pressure and due to the state government’s need for cash ...

Altria expects a hit from COVID-19, BAT set for heated tobacco decline

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 30th April 2020

Big Tobacco manufacturers are expecting the effects of COVID-19 to hit hard in the second half of the year, despite a strong performance in the first quarter ...

Indonesian president urged to clamp down on tobacco to fight coronavirus

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 27th April 2020

A group of non-profit and health organisations has called on Indonesian president Joko Widodo to take a stricter stance against tobacco products in the battle against COVID-19 ...

India’s most populous state bans oral tobacco mix amid coronavirus fear

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 26th March 2020

The Food Safety and Drug Administration in Uttar Pradesh, India’s largest state by population, has temporarily banned pan masala, a traditional oral product popular throughout India, to try to stem the spread of COVID-19 ...

Nicotine events still on the calendar while others fall victim to COVID-19

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 16th March 2020

Organisers of two major conferences and exhibitions on nicotine delivery are hoping the events can still go ahead despite the global coronavirus outbreak and a number of other event cancellations and postponements ...

Duterte hands down new regulations on heated tobacco in the Philippines

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 13th March 2020

Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte has issued an executive order placing a range of restrictions on heated tobacco and “other novel tobacco products” ...

BAT reports 273% revenue increase in a year for its modern oral portfolio

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 28th February 2020

British American Tobacco (BAT)'s "modern oral" portfolio has been one of the main drivers helping the company achieve good results in 2019 for its next-generation products category, which overall increased globally by 36.9% ...

PMI is cleared of misleading investors over Japanese prospects for Iqos

Written by Barnaby Page | 17th February 2020

Philip Morris International (PMI) did not deliberately mislead investors about clinical trials for its Iqos heated tobacco system or about the product’s prospects in Japan, a US federal court has ruled ...

South Korea plans further restrictions on promotion of tobacco alternatives

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 4th February 2020

The South Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare wants to ban practices such as the offering of discounts for heated tobacco products and to make events with free giveaways of such products illegal ...

JT to slash prices of Ploom Tech devices in bid to capture Japanese market

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 29th January 2020

Japan Tobacco (JT) is cutting the price of its Ploom Tech and Ploom Tech+ hybrid devices from 1st February as it continues to lag behind its chief Big Tobacco competitors in its home market ...

BAT launches new HnB in Korea amid government crackdown

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 29th November 2019

British American Tobacco (BAT) has launched its “most advanced” heated tobacco product in South Korea – during a critical political period in which the government has taken a harsh stance towards HnB products ...

JTI lowers its 2019 forecast as Japanese Ploom Tech sales fall

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 31st October 2019

Falling sales of Japan Tobacco’s heated tobacco device Ploom Tech have hit the company’s total revenue from reduced risk products, which fell by JPY7.1bn ($65.7m) to JPY17.8bn ($164.6m) in Q3...

India puts e-cigarette and heated tobacco ban out to public consultation

Written by Marija Obradovic | 26th October 2019

Following the ordinance banning e-cigarettes and heated tobacco, the Indian government is moving forward by drafting a bill which must be approved by parliament reaffirming its...

South Korea cracks down on public smoking, vaping and HnB use

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 25th September 2019

Local authorities across South Korea are carrying out patrols to enforce regulations against smoking, vaping and use of heat-not-burn (HnB) products in a wide range of public...

Big Tobacco job cuts highlight growing pressure on combustibles business

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 19th September 2019

A wave of workforce cuts by major companies such as British American Tobacco (BAT) and Japan Tobacco International (JTI) may be just the tip of the iceberg for Big Tobacco ...

Philippines vapour industry faces hike in taxes before they even come in

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 10th September 2019

Barely a month after Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte signed a law setting taxes on heated tobacco and vaping products, the House of Representatives has opted to change the entire tax...

BAT launches hybrid pod in Korea amid rumours of new tax scheme

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 14th August 2019

British American Tobacco (BAT) has launched Glo Sens in Korea, a new hybrid pod product which combines vaping technology with real tobacco ...

Philippines puts tax on HnB and e-cigs, bans public space use

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 5th August 2019

The Philippines is bent on clamping down on public vaping and imposing a new excise tax on heated tobacco and vapour...

IQOS accounts for 20% of PMI’s net revenues in Q2 2019

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 19th July 2019

PMI considers almost hitting $1.5bn revenue for its reduced risk portfolio in the second quarter of 2019 a “positive top-line momentum” ...

South Korea responds to Juul and Lil launches with pledge to get tough

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 24th June 2019

The South Korean government is running a campaign to discourage use of tobacco products, in response to recent launches of Juul and a similar device from...

BAT looking forward to substantial growth in next-generation volumes

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 13th June 2019

British American Tobacco (BAT) is expecting its next-generation portfolio, including vaping and heated tobacco products, to grow between 30-50% in 2019 ...

Japan remains premier test market for new HnB devices

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 30th May 2019

Japan continues to be the leading test market for heated tobacco products, with two new devices recently launched – including the world’s first device which works with ordinary cigarettes ...

High Court judge puts off Indian ban pending further hearing in May

Written by Marija Obradovic | 19th March 2019

The Delhi High Court has granted interim relief to e-cigarette vendors in India, delaying until 17th May the effects of a government circular calling for a nationwide ban on vaping...

Japan sets aside designated HnB and vaping areas in bars and diners

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 6th March 2019

Japan’s health authorities have issued new ordinances related to smoking areas, including the first designated signs to apply to dedicated areas for the use of heated tobacco...

JT shows two new higher-temp HnB devices for Japan

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 21st January 2019

Japan Tobacco (JT) is launching two new heat-not-burn (HnB) devices in the Japanese market as it tries to catch up with IQOS and Glo in its home territory ...

IQOS versus Glo: PMI takes on BAT in Japanese HnB patent battle

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 3rd December 2018

Philip Morris International (PMI) is suing British American Tobacco (BAT) in Japan for infringement of the patent for IQOS, claiming the rival company has copied the technology for its own Glo device ...

Now Indian government tells customs to seize all e-cig and HnB imports

Written by Marija Obradovic | 27th November 2018

Two weeks after the Delhi High Court decided that an advisory banning e-cigarettes was not binding on India’s states, the national government has issued a new notice calling on customs officers to seize...

IQOS global upgrades announced; dual consumables for Japan

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 24th October 2018

PMI has announced the worldwide launch of two new IQOS devices during a series of events in Japan. The iQOS 3 and iQOS Multi feature quicker charging and longer battery life ...

Good but could be better – 2018 no longer looks quite as rosy for BAT

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 17th October 2018

British American Tobacco (BAT) has lowered its expectations of its heated tobacco and vaping products this year – but still anticipates continuing growth ...

PMI sues Korean government over claim HnB is as harmful as smoking

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 15th October 2018

The South Korean government has declared e-cigarettes and heated tobacco to be no safer than smoking – a statement that has led to legal action by Philip Morris International...

Imperial Brands confirms Pulze for Japan, announces Nixx e-liquid

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 28th September 2018

Imperial Brands has confirmed the launch of its first heated tobacco product, Pulze, in early 2019 in Japan, which is proving a fertile market for heat-not-burn (HnB) ...

Chinese HnB exhibitors make a mark at Korea’s first Vape Expo

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 18th September 2018

The different cultural and regulatory regimes surrounding vaping and heated tobacco in South Korea were on display at the country’s first vaping show ...

Tax hikes and usage restrictions will impact on HnB in Japan

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 11th September 2018

Tax on products in Japan’s growing heated tobacco market will go up on 1st October, as part of a staggered series of rises up to 2022, that will bring the levies on them closer to...

India: central government asks states to ban e-cigs and heated tobacco

Written by Marija Obradovic | 28th August 2018

India’s Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare has issued an advisory to all states to ban e-cigarettes and heated tobacco ...

Israel bans Juul with nicotine limit, prepares tighter e-cig regulation

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 23rd August 2018

Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signed an administrative order prohibiting the import and marketing of any e-cigarette product with a nicotine concentration higher than 20...

Chinese authorities arrest 30 suspects in two HnB smuggling cases

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 10th August 2018

A total of 30 suspects have been arrested in a joint anti-smuggling operation by Chinese law enforcement. China Tobacco Ningbo, Ningbo municipal police department and Ningbo municipal anti-smuggling bureau joined forces ...

Japanese firm launches independent rival device to heat IQOS Heets

Written by Freddie Dawson | 4th July 2018

A new heated-tobacco device which uses PMI’s tobacco consumables Heets will be officially launched on the Japanese market later this month by Jouz, a new independent...

Hong Kong moves towards legal HnB, while keeping e-cigs tightly controlled

Written by Freddie Dawson | 20th June 2018

Hong Kong plans to regulate HnB products in the same way as conventional cigarettes, lifting a rarely-enforced ban. But the current heavy restrictions on nicotine-containing e-cigarettes will...

South Korea takes new graphic approach to e-cig and HnB warnings

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 11th June 2018

The South Korean government is stepping up its efforts to discourage use of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products with new graphic health warning images that will appear on packages later this...

Israel to crack down on Juul before general e-cigarette regulation

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 11th June 2018

A few weeks after the launch of the Juul vaping device on the Israeli market, the Ministry of Health has announced restrictive measures against its sale, claiming it contains too much...

Rival HnB devices that use IQOS consumables available in Japan

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 17th May 2018

Japan’s advanced heated tobacco market and its ban on nicotine e-liquid are between them leading e-cigarette manufacturers to launch their own HnB devices – many compatible with the Heets made for market leader...

Big in Japan – now JTI and BAT plan to make heated tobacco even bigger

Written by Freddie Dawson | 7th May 2018

British American Tobacco (BAT) and Japan Tobacco International (JTI) are both planning further investment in reduced-risk products following successful Japanese...

PMI and Altria report cigarettes down, HnB and vapour up

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 2nd May 2018

While sales of traditional cigarettes continue to decline worldwide, PMI is increasingly relying on its heated-tobacco device IQOS to buoy up its financial results, particularly through sales in Japan and Korea ...

Vape show reveals mixed feelings on Japan’s market future

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 16th April 2018

Opinions on the future of the Japanese e-cigarette market at the country’s first vape sector tradeshow were mixed, with some optimism despite the continuing ban on nicotine e-liquid and the dramatic success of HnB...

Korean web of taxes brings HnB price in line with combustible cigarettes

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 3rd April 2018

Regulators in South Korea have enacted new taxes on heat-not-burn (HnB) tobacco products, apparently building on previous government moves to bring prices closer in line with those of conventional cigarettes ...

JT set to take the biggest hit from Japan’s new HnB tax plans

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 6th March 2018

The budget plan making its way through a host of Japanese parliamentary committees includes a staggered series of tax rises for heated tobacco products as well as combustible cigarettes – and Japan Tobacco could suffer...

As cigarette sales fall, PMI and JT plan further HnB investment

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 16th February 2018

As tobacco giants Philip Morris International (PMI) and Japan Tobacco (JT) have been hit by falling tobacco sales, revenues from their e-cigarette and heat-not-burn (HnB) portfolios have increased ...

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