2022 E-cigarette Industry Blue Book: Export Trends and Analysis

Jun.15.2022
2022 E-cigarette Industry Blue Book: Export Trends and Analysis
2FIRSTS Technology CEO Guo Xiaoyu released the "2022 e-cigarette Export Blue Book" at the industry conference in Shenzhen on June 15, 2022.

On June 15, 2022, at the "6th Conference on Standardized Development and Promotion of the e-cigarette Industry and the First Export Service Development Conference" held in Bao'an, Shenzhen, Guo Xiaoyu, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Shenzhen 2FIRSTS Technology Co., Ltd., officially unveiled the "2022 E-cigarette Industry Export Blue Book" (hereinafter referred to as the "Blue Book"), a joint production of the e-cigarette Professional Committee of China Electronic Commerce Association and 2FIRSTS.

2022 E-cigarette Industry Blue Book: Export Trends and Analysis


The Blue Book provides a comprehensive description of the e-cigarette industry, focusing on aspects such as industry scale, employment, exports, markets, and patents. It is divided into six chapters: an overview of e-cigarette exports, an overview of the e-cigarette export industry, a global overview of e-cigarette consumption, opportunities and challenges, main markets, and the Fog Valley Award.

2022 E-cigarette Industry Blue Book: Export Trends and Analysis


The preparation of this "Blue Book" took one month. The team interviewed over 20 entrepreneurs and conducted site visits to over 50 companies. Through various forms such as research, interviews, seminars, data crawling, and investigation of third-party databases, they obtained industry data and gained an understanding of the actual operation situation. The reliability of the data was further verified by industry experts.

2022 E-cigarette Industry Blue Book: Export Trends and Analysis


According to a report, the global e-cigarette market is projected to surpass $108 billion in 2022. Additionally, it is anticipated that the overseas e-cigarette market will maintain a growth rate of 35% in 2022, reaching a total market size of over $100 billion. In terms of exports, it is expected that the total value of e-cigarette exports in 2022 will reach 186.7 billion RMB, with a growth rate estimated at 35%.

2022 E-cigarette Industry Blue Book: Export Trends and Analysis


There are currently over 1,500 e-cigarette manufacturing and brand companies, with more than 70% of them primarily exporting their products overseas. The e-cigarette supply chain and related service companies amount to nearly 100,000. In terms of patents, domestic e-cigarette patents are mainly concentrated in the field of liquid e-cigarettes. From 2012 to 2021, a total of 28,838 patent applications were filed domestically, with liquid e-cigarette patents accounting for 93.0% of them, totaling 25,954. The majority of e-cigarette patent applications have emerged in the past three years. Over the past three years, the number of patent applications has been consistently above 5,000 per year. Since the fourth quarter of 2021, the monthly number of patent applications has been increasing. It is expected that the total number of patent applications in 2022 will exceed 7,000.

2022 E-cigarette Industry Blue Book: Export Trends and Analysis


In addition to providing reliable data, the "Bluebook" also offers a detailed analysis of various aspects of the e-cigarette industry. In terms of the export industry overview of e-cigarettes, the Greater Bay Area covers the entire e-cigarette supply chain, with a notable surge in e-cigarette patents and a significant increase in appearance patents. Regarding global e-cigarette consumption, there is an apparent trend towards diversification, and the consumption of new tobacco products is expected to be a major growth point in the tobacco industry's future. The United States stands as the largest single market globally, with a clear influence on consumption patterns, while EU countries are expected to achieve a rapid increase in e-cigarette penetration. As for opportunities and challenges, 2FIRSTS, led by renowned entrepreneurs in the industry, held a discussion forum to strategically assess the current state of the sector and provide methods for efficiently expanding into overseas markets. In terms of key markets, the regulatory framework for e-cigarettes in the global arena follows a federal approach in the European Union, the United States, and Canada. However, in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, most countries tend to impose a ban on e-cigarettes, directly prohibiting their import and sale to curb their distribution at the source.


The "Blue Book" offers a comprehensive and objective understanding of the current state and future of the Chinese e-cigarette industry, serving as a professional reference manual with a meticulous perspective.


Scan the QR code to contact our staff for inquiries regarding the purchase of the "2022 E-cigarette Industry Export Blue Book.


Editor: Wang Siyu


We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

UK HMRC Issues One-Month Countdown Warning, Urges Vape Businesses to Prepare for New Tax Rules
UK HMRC Issues One-Month Countdown Warning, Urges Vape Businesses to Prepare for New Tax Rules
The UK’s Vaping Products Duty and Vaping Duty Stamps Scheme will take effect on October 1, 2026. All vaping liquids manufactured in or imported into the UK will face a flat excise duty of £2.20 per 10ml, whether or not they contain nicotine. Newly manufactured or imported products released onto the UK market from October 1 will require a valid duty stamp, while eligible existing unstamped inventory can continue to be sold through March 31, 2027. From April 1, 2027, all vaping products outside duty suspension must carry a valid stamp.
Sep.03
JTI’s Nordic Spirit Signs Co-op Live Partnership Ahead of New UK Nicotine Sponsorship Restrictions
JTI’s Nordic Spirit Signs Co-op Live Partnership Ahead of New UK Nicotine Sponsorship Restrictions
JTI nicotine pouch brand Nordic Spirit has entered a long-term partnership with Manchester’s Co-op Live, becoming the venue’s Official Nicotine Pouch Partner. The 23,500-capacity venue is the UK’s largest indoor live entertainment arena. Nordic Spirit will run in-venue activations for existing adult nicotine consumers and sell products at selected arena bars. The agreement was entered into before the relevant UK sponsorship restrictions were introduced, while the government intends to implement a comprehensive ban on advertising and sponsorship of vaping and nicotine products from June 1, 2027.
Sep.07
Spain Cigarette Volumes Fall 5.2% in August, BAT Drops 14.5%, JTI Gains Share; France Down 8.3% on Adjusted Basis
Spain Cigarette Volumes Fall 5.2% in August, BAT Drops 14.5%, JTI Gains Share; France Down 8.3% on Adjusted Basis
Spain's cigarette volumes declined 5.2% year over year in August 2026, according to government data cited by UBS and reported by Investing.com on October 7. British American Tobacco's volumes fell 14.5%, followed by Imperial Brands at 8.8%, Philip Morris International at 6.6% and Japan Tobacco at 4.6%. JTI was the only one of the four companies to gain cigarette market share, rising six basis points to 26.7%. In France, official customs data showed an unadjusted 3.7% decline in cigarette deliveries. Adjusting for the difference in delivery days produces a decline of approximately 8.3%, consistent with the UBS figure. The bank also estimated the earnings exposure of major tobacco companies to both markets.
Market
Oct.13
Latest UK ONS Data: Vaping Rate Edges Down to 9.9% in 2025, a Year After Overtaking Cigarette Smoking
Latest UK ONS Data: Vaping Rate Edges Down to 9.9% in 2025, a Year After Overtaking Cigarette Smoking
Vaping prevalence in Great Britain edged down to 9.9% in 2025 from 10.0% in 2024, with the number of adult users holding at approximately 5.4 million for a second consecutive year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). E-cigarette use had risen from 6.4% in 2020 to 10.0% in 2024, when it exceeded cigarette smoking prevalence for the first time. Cigarette smoking continued to decline to 8.7% in 2025, widening the gap to 1.2 percentage points. Daily vaping declined slightly, while usage among adults aged 25–34 increased despite falling rates in other age groups.
DATA
Oct.14
Juul Sublicense Reshapes Vuse Alto Patent Bill as Court Ends R.J. Reynolds’ 5.25% Royalty Obligation to Altria
Juul Sublicense Reshapes Vuse Alto Patent Bill as Court Ends R.J. Reynolds’ 5.25% Royalty Obligation to Altria
According to Law360 on August 31, 2026, a federal judge in North Carolina ruled that a patent sublicense between R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. and Juul Labs Inc. relieves Reynolds of its obligation to continue paying royalties to Altria Client Services LLC over Vuse Alto. A jury had previously found that Vuse Alto infringed three Altria patents and awarded approximately $95.2 million in past damages, after which Reynolds was ordered to pay an ongoing royalty equal to 5.25% of positive net sales. The new ruling finds that a valid sublicense can eliminate future infringement, potentially ending what Altria described as hundreds of millions of dollars in future royalties.
Sep.01
PMI Showcases ZYN, IQOS and U.S. Investments at NACS Show 2026
PMI Showcases ZYN, IQOS and U.S. Investments at NACS Show 2026
At the 2026 NACS Show in Las Vegas, Philip Morris International (PMI) showcased its ZYN nicotine pouches, IQOS heated tobacco products and U.S. investments. A 2Firsts review of FDA records found that several ZYN products displayed at the booth were not on the agency's marketing authorization list, including certain nicotine strengths and flavors. A PMI booth representative also confirmed that IQOS is currently sold in three U.S. states, while the newer IQOS ILUMA system remains under FDA review.
EXPO
Oct.10