October 2026: Eight EU Nations Demand Comprehensive Ban on New Nicotine Products and Flavors A coalition of eight European Union member states has formally called on the European Commission to introduce sweeping restrictions on nicotine products, including a market ban on new releases, a broad prohibition on flavorings, and tighter...
South Korea: Heated Tobacco Sticks
October 2026: Japan Tobacco Expands Ploom Lineup in South Korea with Launch of EVO Slate Japan Tobacco (JT) has expanded its heated tobacco portfolio with the release of EVO Slate, a new stick variant designed for its Ploom device line. Developed in response to strong market demand for intense menthol...
Imperial Brands: FY26 Trading Update
Imperial Brands has confirmed in its pre-close trading update for FY26 (ended September 30, 2026) that it remains on track to deliver full-year guidance across all key operational and financial metrics. This performance continues to be supported by sustainable growth in traditional combustible tobacco, driven by robust pricing power, alongside...
KT&G: News
October 2026: Emtech Files Regulatory Complaint Against KT&G Over Alleged Forced Patent Transfers and Retaliatory Trade Cuts South Korean e-cigarette device manufacturer Emtech has reported KT&G to the Fair Trade Commission, accusing the company of violating the Fair Trade Act and Subcontracting Act by cutting off business ties after Emtech...
KT&G: Manufacturing
Three key trends force tobacco companies to continuously re-assess and optimize their manufacturing footprint: (1) Cost savings: Transferring labor intensive operations to lower-cost countries within a certain geography (2) Geographical re-balancing: Fast-declining cigarette volume in the Western markets vs. Stable (even, increasing) cigarette volume in the emerging markets (especially, in...