Key Takeaways
- Starting April 1, 2026, Japan will implement price increases centered on heated tobacco products;
- BAT Japan has decided to keep the prices of 38 glo-compatible tobacco stick products unchanged;
- Nine Velo products will remain at 580 yen (approximately $3.87, based on an exchange rate of $1 ≈ 150 yen), nine neo products will remain at 500 yen (approximately $3.33), and nine Lucky Strike products will remain at 450 yen (approximately $3.00);
- Of the 11 Kent products, regular-size sticks will remain at 500 yen (approximately $3.33), while slim-size sticks will remain at 550 yen (approximately $3.67); slim-size Kent products will be discontinued once existing inventory is sold out.
2Firsts, March 30, 2026
According to YoSK8, starting April 1, 2026, tobacco companies in Japan will generally raise prices for heated tobacco products following a tobacco tax increase. However, British American Tobacco Japan G.K. has decided to keep current prices unchanged for 38 glo-compatible tobacco stick products across the Velo, neo, Lucky Strike, and Kent lines.
The report said that Philip Morris Japan (PMJ)’s IQOS and Japan Tobacco (JT)’s Ploom have both decided to uniformly raise prices for their compatible tobacco stick products from April 1, 2026.
- After April 1, 2026, Velo sticks for glo Hilo will remain priced at 580 yen (approximately $3.87, based on an exchange rate of $1 ≈ 150 yen).
- After April 1, 2026, neo sticks for glo Hyper will remain priced at 500 yen (approximately $3.33, based on an exchange rate of $1 ≈ 150 yen).
- After April 1, 2026, Lucky Strike sticks for glo Hyper will remain priced at 450 yen (approximately $3.00, based on an exchange rate of $1 ≈ 150 yen).
- After April 1, 2026, regular-size Kent sticks for glo Hyper will remain priced at 500 yen (approximately $3.33, based on an exchange rate of $1 ≈ 150 yen), while slim-size Kent sticks for glo will remain priced at 550 yen (approximately $3.67, based on an exchange rate of $1 ≈ 150 yen). Slim-size Kent products will be discontinued once existing inventory is sold out.
The report added that, at present, more than 60% of the price of each pack of 20 sticks consists of tobacco tax, and the tax increase has already been confirmed to continue in stages through April 2029.
Cover Image Source: YoSK8
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