ESSE
August 2026: KT&G’s Esse Brand Surpasses ₩2 Trillion in Sales on Strong Overseas Demand Annual sales for KT&G’s ultra-slim cigarette brand, Esse, surpassed ₩2 trillion last year, driven primarily by expanding international markets. Overseas sales reached ₩1.11 trillion, exceeding domestic revenue for the first time and leading the company to
Cigarette Market
June 2025: 5.1 trillion cigarettes were sold in the world in 2024 In 2024, global sales volume of legal cigarettes reached 5.1 trillion sticks – 47% of which (2.4 trillion sticks) was sold in China alone. Outside China, fifteen countries and regions recorded over 50 billion sticks sales volume, accounting
Philip Morris vs. Philip Morris
Philip Morris Company: Philip Morris was a real person – a British tobacconist and entrepreneur – who founded what would eventually become the largest publicly-traded tobacco company in the world. In 1847, Philip Morris opened a tobacco shop on Bond Street in London, selling hand-rolled Turkish cigarettes. He died in
Cigarette
Cigarette: a slender roll of cut tobacco enclosed in paper and meant to be smoked Less commonly spelled as cigaret, especially among older generations in the United States. The first known use of cigarette is from 1832. Cigarette as a word passed to the English language from French (“cigarette” also in French) – which
Marlboro Alternatives
Marlboro has long dominated the cigarette market in the United States, becoming nearly synonymous with smoking itself. Its iconic branding – built on the rugged, masculine image of the Marlboro Man -helped cement its position as the top-selling cigarette brand in the country for decades. Owned by Philip Morris USA,
Marlboro Brand
Marlboro is a prominent American cigarette brand owned by Philip Morris USA (an operating company of Altria, ticker: MO) in the United States and Philip Morris International (PMI, ticker: PM) outside the US, excluding Canada. Introduced in 1924, from its initial positioning as a women’s cigarette to its transformation into
USA: Cigar Market
September 2026: STG Merges Cigar.com into Cigora in Major Direct-to-Consumer Consolidation Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) is streamlining its online direct-to-consumer retail footprint by transitioning long-running site cigar.com into cigora.com, effective September 28, 2026. Following the migration, the unified platform will operate under the brand name “CIGORA presented by Cigar.com.” When
UK: Cigar Market
June 2026: The Structural Shift in the UK Cigar Market: The Rise of the Cigarillo Segment The UK cigar category accounts for more than £350 million in annual retail sales. Within this category, a significant structural realignment has occurred. First introduced six years ago, the cigarillo segment has expanded rapidly
Little Cigars
June 2025: Global little cigar sales dropped 4% in 2024, outside China Little cigar sales, outside China, dropped 3.9% to 18.4 billion sticks in 2024. Top-3 markets, USA (5.75 billion), Japan (2.92 billion), and Germany (2.45 billion), accounted for 60.4% of the global sales volume in 2024. Sales revenue for
International Cigar Market
June 2025: The Dominican Republic remains the world’s top exporter of premium cigars The Dominican Republic remains the world’s top exporter of premium cigars, producing around 8.4 billion cigars each year – including 181 million handmade cigars and more than 8.2 billion machine-made cigars. 88% of the premium (handmade) cigars
Zippo Lighters
Zippo lighters are iconic, reusable metal lighters known for their windproof flame and distinctive “click” sound when opened or closed. They’re often associated with ruggedness, reliability, and Americana, and have become popular with collectors and users alike due to their design and lifetime warranty. Zippo Manufacturing Company is privately owned
Soluble Nicotine Products
August 2026: Soluble Nicotine Products Emerge as the Next Billion-Dollar Oral Nicotine Opportunity A new category of nicotine products is emerging alongside the rapid expansion of nicotine pouches, with tobacco companies and specialist manufacturers developing nicotine lozenges, tablets, oral strips, gels, sticks and other products designed to dissolve in the
Copenhagen Pouches
Copenhagen Pouches are a tin of moist smokeless tobacco, commonly known as dipping tobacco in the United States, in pouch format. Copenhagen is a prominent American brand of moist smokeless tobacco, produced by the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company (USSTC) – a subsidiary of Altria Group which also owns Marlboro-maker, Philip
Camel Snus
Camel Snus is a smokeless, spit-free tobacco product marketed in the U.S. by Reynolds American, a wholly-owned subsidary of British American Tobacco (BAT). Packaged in small pouches, Camel Snus is designed to be smoke-free and spit-free disceet alternative to cigarettes. The origial product, in rounds cans, was first test-marketed in
Copenhagen Tobacco
Copenhagen is one of the most well-known and enduring brands of dipping tobacco in the United States. Copenhagen is owned by U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company (USSTC), which is a subsidiary of Marlboro-maker Altria Group. So essentially, Copenhagen falls under the same corporate umbrella as some of the biggest names in
Grizzly Dip [Moist Tobacco]
Grizzly Moist Smokeless Tobacco, commonly misspelled as Grizzle, is a popular dip brand marketed by the American Snuff Company, an operating company of British American Tobacco’s U.S. subsidiary of Reynolds American. Introduced in 2001 by the Conwood Company and acquired by Reynolds American in 2006, Grizzly quickly gained popularity for
Skoal Moist Tobacco
Skoal is a well-known brand of moist smokeless tobacco (dipping tobacco, dips) in the United States, owned and marketed by U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company (USSTC), a subsidiary of Marlboro-maker Altria Group. Skoal was introduced in 1934 by the United States Tobacco Company, which later became USSTC. The brand positioned its
Heated Tobacco: Products
September 2026: KT&G Will Launch ‘lil Tonino Lamborghini’ Featuring Ultra-Fast 3-Second Induction Heating Technology In a major technological leap for the heated tobacco category, KT&G announced today that it will launch its new flagship device platform, the lil Tonino Lamborghini, on September 15, 2026. The centerpiece of the announcement is
Heated Tobacco: Markets
July 2026: JT Drives Heated Tobacco Growth with ¥800 Billion Investment Plan Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) is sharpening its focus on the next-generation tobacco category, committing ¥800 billion ($5.2 billion) to its heated tobacco business over the three-year period through 2028. The substantial capital allocation reflects a strategic drive to
lil
March 2026: KT&G’s Lil Able Surpasses 1 Million Devices as Heated Tobacco Business Approaches ₩1 Trillion KT&G’s heated tobacco device Lil Able has surpassed 1 million units in cumulative sales in South Korea, highlighting the strong growth of the company’s next-generation tobacco business. The device, first launched in November 2022,
iSenzia
iSenzia is a flavored heatstick with no tobacco marketed by Imperial Brands for exclusive use with Pulze tobacco heating devices. Imperial Brands first introduced iSenzia at an experience event called “Feel The Flavours” in Milan, Italy in May 2024. iSenzia follows the launch of “veo sticks for glo devices”, marketed
SWIC Heated Tobacco Device
Altria starts the test marketing of its proprietary heated tobacco device, SWIC, in the UK through online sales. SWIC works exclusively with KETLE Capsules and provides up to 14 sessions per charge. The device features vibration haptics as well as an informative screen for battery life and remaining capsule content. The SWIC Starter Kits retail
Global Vape Market
August 2026: China’s Vape Exports Hit 2026 Peak at $1.047 Billion as U.S. Demand Surges China’s exports across vaping products reached $1.047 billion in July 2026, marking a 16.5% year-over-year increase and the highest monthly total of the year. According to China Customs data, the expansion was heavily concentrated in
JUUL: News
July 2026: Delaware Judge Allows Second Lawsuit Challenging JUUL Rescue Deal to Proceed JUUL Labs will face a second shareholder lawsuit challenging the rescue financing that kept the e-cigarette company out of bankruptcy after a Delaware court ruled that key claims against investors and directors can proceed. In a brief
VEEV Vapes
June 2026: Philip Morris International (PMI) Expands Vaping Portfolio with European Roll-Out of VEEV ONE PLUS Philip Morris International (PMI) is officially extending its closed-pod vaping lineup with the release of the VEEV ONE PLUS. Designed as a direct evolution of their core VEEV portfolio, the new device targets a
Disposable E-cigarette Ban
May 2026: Germany Plans Ban on Disposable Vapes Over Fire, Environmental and Youth Concerns German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider has announced plans to ban the sale of disposable e-cigarettes (single-use vapes), signaling upcoming legislation to be introduced later this year. The proposal is aimed at addressing environmental damage, fire risks,
E-cigarette Market
March 2026: Vaping Use Surges in Thailand Despite Longstanding Ban E-cigarette use in Thailand has increased sharply despite the country maintaining a strict ban on the products for more than a decade. According to official data, the number of e-cigarette users rose from around 78,000 in 2021 to 900,000 in
Geek Bar Vapes & Flavors
Geek Bar Vapes: A Comprehensive Look at Its Rise, Popularity, Controversies, and Future Geek Bar is a vape brand, mostly recognized for its disposable vapes that come in bold flavors. Established in 2015, Geek Bar is manufactured and marketed by Geekvape, a prominent Chinese vape company. Geek Bar entered the
Nicotine Pouches: International Markets
August 2026: ASF Launches LOOP Nicotine Pouches in South Africa as Altria and KT&G Target Global Expansion Swedish manufacturer ASF (Another Snus Factory) has officially launched its flagship nicotine pouch brand, LOOP, in South Africa. The rollout marks a key milestone in expanding the brand’s footprint across the African continent,
ALP Nicotine Pouches
August 2026: ALP Launches “Frontier Collection” Nicotine Pouches ALP Supply Co. LLC has released a limited-edition product line called the “Frontier Collection,” available exclusively through the brand’s direct-to-consumer website. The collection introduces new 4 mg and 8 mg nicotine options – expanding the brand’s existing lineup across its 3 mg
Velo Pouches: International Markets
June 2026: VELO Standardizes Nicotine Strength Spectrum to Simplify Product Selection Nicotine pouch brand VELO has outlined a standardized nicotine strength classification system designed to help adult consumers navigate its product lineup. By clarifying the distinction between raw nicotine content in milligrams and subjectively perceived nicotine strength, the brand aims
FRE Pouches & Flavors
What are FRE pouches? FRE is a nicotine pouch brand that was introduced in the U.S. market in 2019. FRE nicotine pouches are manufactured by Nu-X Ventures, a subsidiary of the Kentucky-based tobacco company Turning Point Brands (TPB). TPB, created in 1988 through leveraged buyout of Lorillard’s Other Tobacco Products division,
Zone Pouches & Flavors
What are Zone pouches? Zone is a nicotine pouch brand launched in the U.S. in February 2024. Zone nicotine pouches are manufactured by TJP Labs in Canada and marketed by ITG Brands, a subsidiary of Imperial Brands, in the U.S. In June 2023, Imperial acquired a range of 14 nicotine
Sesh Pouches & Flavors
What are Sesh pouches? Sesh+ is a nicotine pouch brand launched in the U.S. in late-2021 by Sesh Products. Headquartered in Austin, Texas and founded in 2020, Sesh manufactures in Ohio and distributes nationwide. Sesh submitted Premarket Tobacco Product Applications (PMTAs) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in
Smoking Cessation Products
June 2026: FDA Delays Approval of Achieve’s Cytisinicline Over Manufacturing Issues The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has declined to approve Achieve Life Sciences’s smoking cessation drug cytisinicline, issuing a Complete Response Letter that cites unresolved issues at a third-party manufacturing facility and incomplete product labeling. Importantly, the agency
Zonnic: Canada
March 2026: Alberta Urges Federal Government to Ease Nicotine Pouch Restrictions Amid Black Market Concerns Alberta’s provincial government has formally urged Canada’s federal authorities to reconsider strict national rules governing nicotine pouches, arguing that the current framework is counterproductive and contributes to the growth of an unregulated market. In a
Nicotine gum
Nicotine gum is an over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) product designed to help smokers quit by gradually reducing their nicotine dependence. It provides a controlled and lower dose of nicotine compared to cigarettes, without the harmful tar, carbon monoxide, and other toxic chemicals present in tobacco products. Nicotine gum works
Quit smoking – Stop smoking
Myths and Facts About Nicotine Nicotine is often misunderstood. Some people believe it causes cancer. Others think switching to nicotine alternatives is just as harmful. The truth is that many myths are stopping smokers from making better choices about their health. Whether you’re thinking about quitting or just curious, this
Nicotine Lozenges
Quitting smoking is no small feat – it’s a journey filled with challenges and triumphs. But what if there was a simple, effective way to ease the transition? Enter nicotine lozenges, a tool designed to help you say goodbye to smoking for good. These lozenges provide an accessible, smoke-free method
Caffeine Pouches: Rise of Pocket-Sized Energy Among Gamers
Gaming and caffeine have always had a strong relationship. Whether it’s slamming energy drinks during a late-night raid or sipping cold brew while grinding ranked matches, staying sharp and alert has become an essential part of the gaming experience. But now, a new type of energy supplement is quietly revolutionizing
Caffeine Pouches: Questions and Answers
Are caffeine pouches legal? Caffeine pouches are legal in the U.S. Moreover, caffeine is not an age-restricted substance; unlike nicotine, caffeine is not subjected to any sales & marketing restrictions. Nevertheless, caffeine pouches are classified as dietary supplements and are subject to the U.S. FDA oversight. In April 2018, U.S.
Nootropic Pouches
Nootropics are substances that supposedly improve cognitive functions, mainly executive functions, memory, creativity, or motivation, in healthy individuals. Also called “smart drugs” or “cognitive enhancers,” nootropics include a wide range of natural and synthetic substances, with stimulants being the most common type. A “nootropic pouch” is a form of portable,
Energy Pouches: Caffeine Pouches
When we feel the need for a boost, we traditionally resort to nicotine and caffeine as an “every day use” booster – mostly consumed in the form of cigarettes and drinks, respectively. Caffeine is a stimulant that impacts the brain and central nervous system to keep us awake. Meanwhile, nicotine
Cannabis: Canada
August 2026: Canadian Legal Cannabis Retail Reaches Record CA$517.8 Million in June Canada’s legal adult-use cannabis sector has reached a landmark milestone. Newly released retail data from Statistics Canada reveals that legal dispensaries nationwide generated CA$517.8 million in monthly sales in June 2026. This represents the single highest monthly sales
Cannabis: USA
August 2026: U.S. Marijuana Use Holds Near Record Highs as Public Remains Divided on Impact American marijuana consumption continues to hover at historic levels, driven primarily by younger demographics, even as public perception of the drug’s overall effect remains sharply split. According to recent Gallup survey data, 17% of U.S.
Regulation: Cannabis – USA
July 2026: Over Half of Americans Now Live in States Where Recreational Cannabis Is Legal The legal landscape surrounding cannabis in the United States continues to evolve rapidly, transforming a once-uniform federal prohibition into a complex patchwork of state regulations. As legislative sessions and voter initiatives advance, a major demographic
The Evolving Economics and Demographics of American Cannabis
The Evolving Economics and Demographics of American Cannabis: A Market Analysis From a niche counterculture product to a multi-billion-dollar commercial engine, the American cannabis landscape has fundamentally shifted. Recent macroeconomic data, regional legal updates, and comprehensive public opinion data compiled by the Pew Research Center illuminate a market defined by
Cannabis: International Markets
[For the developments in the USA and Canada, refer to Cannabis: USA and Cannabis: Canada] May 2026: Global Cannabis Prices Fall Sharply as Oversupply Intensifies Across Major Legal Markets Cannabis prices continue to decline globally as legal markets mature, with structural oversupply, rapid capacity expansion, and regulatory fragmentation driving sustained
Cannabis: Taxation – USA
January 2026: Cannabis Sales Tax Hike Takes Effect In Maine Sales taxes on the purchase of adult-use cannabis products increased from 10% to 14% in Maine, effective January 1, 2026. The sales tax hike was proposed by the Governor to address the state’s budget deficit. However, separate provisions in the
Pipe Tobacco
June 2025: Global pipe tobacco sales, outside China, reached $7.5 billion in 2024 In 2024, global pipe tobacco sales, outside China, reached 128,000 tons – down 0.4% year-on-year basis. Top-3 markets, Egypt (36,000 tons), Saudi Arabia (23,000), and Iraq (18,000), generated 60% of the total global sales volume. Sales revenue
Beyond Nicotine
In addition to transformation to Reduced-Risk Products (Next Generation Products, Smokefree products), major tobacco companies are increasingly exploring growth opportunities in adjacent business areas that go beyond tobacco and nicotine. Three main areas explored are: 1. Cannabis 2. Wellness/Well-being & Stimulation 3. Healthcare (Nicotine-replacement therapies, plant-based vaccines, inhaled and oral
Tobacco Products
Smokeless tobacco: Usually consumed orally or nasally, without burning or combustion. There are two main types of smokeless tobacco: snuff and chewing tobacco Smoking tobacco: Act of burning dried or cured leaves of the tobacco plant and inhaling the smoke. Combustion releases biochemically active compounds in tobacco, such as nicotine
