JTI Plans to Enter Korean HNB Market in H1 2024

JTI by 2FIRSTS.ai
Jan.10.2024
JTI Plans to Enter Korean HNB Market in H1 2024
Japan Tobacco International (JTI) is preparing to enter the South Korean market, adding heated tobacco sticks to convenience store shelves.

According to a report by South Korean media outlet, etoday, on January 9th, Japan Tobacco International (JTI) is ready to enter the South Korean market, driven by the success of KT&G and Philip Morris International (PMI) in the heated tobacco market (HNB).

 

According to industry sources, Japan Tobacco International (JTI) Korea is expected to introduce heated tobacco sticks to convenience store cigarette shelves in Korea in the first half of this year. This move is seen by the tobacco industry as part of JTI Korea's efforts to launch a new type of e-cigarette. Currently, JTI Korea does not sell HNB (heat-not-burn) tobacco and tobacco stick products in the area.

 

Since 2022, JTI has registered over 100 design patents related to e-cigarettes with the Korean Intellectual Property Office. These patents encompass all aspects of e-cigarette devices and associated components, including the trademark for their newly launched HNB product, "Ploom X," which is currently being sold in Japan.

 

Japan Tobacco International (JTI) is a Japanese tobacco company headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and operates a subsidiary called JTI Korea in South Korea. Although JTI introduced its liquid pod-based e-cigarette product, Ploom Tech, in South Korea in 2019, the company discontinued its sales in 2021. However, due to JTI's global expansion of its e-cigarette business, the industry is optimistic about JTI Korea's prospects in the South Korean e-cigarette market.

 

A representative from JTI Korea stated that the plans to release e-cigarettes have not been finalized yet, but they are continuously considering various possibilities to enter the e-cigarette market in Korea based on consumer demand and industry trends.

 

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