E-Cigarette Sales Quadruple in Brazil Despite Ban

Sales of e-cigarettes in Brazil have reportedly quadrupled from 2018 to 2022, according to various foreign media outlets. During the period from 2021 to 2023, the search volume for the term "e-cigarette" in Brazil increased by over 1150%. Searches for "vape eletrônico" (e-cigarette) and "cigarro eletrônico vape" (electronic cigarette) nationwide saw growth of over 550% and 650%, respectively.

Statistical data shows that around six million adult smokers in Brazil have tried e-cigarette products, with 2.2 million adults claiming to have used an e-cigarette within 30 days preceding the survey interview. This represents an increase of over 4.5 million e-cigarette consumers compared to the first year of surveys in 2018.

Despite Brazil implementing a full ban on e-cigarettes since 2009, it appears the prohibition has not curbed consumption within the country.

Many Brazilian consumers are reportedly unaware that the e-cigarettes they use are smuggled goods. BAT Brazil consultant, Alexandra Bastos, noted that without regulations on the commercialization, manufacturing, distribution, and content of these products, all these consumers are exposed to illegal products and are ignorant of their source, manufacturer, or the actual ingredients in the device.

Notably, while Brazil has been lax in monitoring the e-cigarette black market for a long time, leading to rampant black market activities, the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service has recently started focusing on combating the smuggling of illegally imported and commercialized e-cigarettes. In 2022 alone, 1.1 million e-cigarettes were seized. During a nationwide operation in July last year, a single day saw the capture of 290,000 e-cigarettes.

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