E-cigarette Sales Surge by Almost 50%: CDC Data

Jun.25.2023
E-cigarette Sales Surge by Almost 50%: CDC Data
CDC data shows e-cigarette sales increased nearly 50% in three years, led by non-tobacco flavors. Sales of disposable e-cigarettes surpassed pod systems.

According to CBS News, data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that e-cigarette sales have grown by nearly 50% over the past three years, increasing from 15.5 million in January 2020 to 22.7 million in December 2022.


These data come from an analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of data from market research companies. The analysis was published in the agency's "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.


One-time-use sales surpass replaceable magazine sales.


Fatma Romeh, the Chief Market Analyst at CDC, stated in a declaration that...


The significant increase in e-cigarette sales from 2020 to 2022 is primarily driven by the growth of non-tobacco flavored e-cigarettes, such as the dominance of mint flavor in the prefilled pod market and the leading position of fruit and candy flavors in the disposable e-cigarette market.


According to the national youth tobacco survey data released in 2022, more than 80% of middle and high school students use e-cigarettes with fruit or mint flavors, as pointed out by Romei.


According to data, even though disposable e-cigarettes accounted for less than a quarter of total sales in January 2020, by March 2022 disposable e-cigarette sales surpassed pod system sales.


From January 2020 to December 2022, the unit share of pod systems decreased from 75.2% of total sales to 48.0%, while the unit share of disposable e-cigarettes increased from 24.7% to 51.8%.


Sales of e-cigarettes | Image source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States


Sales volume of pod systems | Image source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States.


Sales of disposable e-cigarettes | Image source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States.


The total number of e-cigarette brands in the market has increased by 46.2%.


According to data, the number of e-cigarette brands in the United States market is continually increasing. During the CDC study, the total number of e-cigarette brands in the US market increased by 46.2%, from 184 to 269.


Deirdre Lawrence Kittner, the Director of Smoking and Health Office at the CDC, stated in a release:


The sharp rise in e-cigarette use among teenagers in 2017 and 2018, fueled largely by JUUL, highlights the rapid evolution of sales and use patterns in the e-cigarette industry.


The overall sales growth of e-cigarettes has slowed down.


According to data, total sales increased by 67.2% from January 2020 to May 2022, rising from 15.5 million units per period to 25.9 million units. However, from May 2022 to December 2022, total sales decreased by 12.3%.


Even though overall monthly sales have been decreasing since May 2022, sales are still millions higher compared to early 2020. The CDC attributes the recent decline to several factors, including the efforts of health departments to regulate the sales of nicotine products.


At the national level, the FDA has taken multiple measures this year in an effort to curb unauthorized sales of e-cigarettes.


Director of the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) at the FDA, Brian King, stated in a declaration that:


All participants in the supply chain, including retailers, have a responsibility to prevent illegal e-cigarettes from being placed on the market.


A previous CDC study report analyzed that the comprehensive flavor ban in Massachusetts resulted in a sharp decline of 94% in the sales of flavored e-cigarettes in the state.


It is worth noting that more and more state and local governments in the United States are also attempting to impose restrictions on the sale of flavored e-cigarettes.


As of December 31, 2022, seven states (California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Utah) and 378 jurisdictions (including counties, cities, towns, and villages) have implemented some form of restriction on flavored electronic products.


The CDC acknowledged that other factors may also contribute to the sales slowdown, including the increase in high-dose or high-volume disposable e-cigarettes purchased at one time, resulting in more or stronger doses each time.


Moreover, this data is limited to the sales performance of traditional brick-and-mortar retailers. This suggests that some sales may not have actually declined, but instead shifted elsewhere, such as online orders or specialized e-cigarette stores not included in the company's sales data.


References:


Health officials have raised concerns about the surge in e-cigarette sales, which have coincided with a rise in calls to poison control centers.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

Chinese Disposable Brands OXBAR, LYCO Challenge Vuse and JUUL: Pennsylvania’s Pending List Offers a Glimpse of the Future Legal Vape Market
Chinese Disposable Brands OXBAR, LYCO Challenge Vuse and JUUL: Pennsylvania’s Pending List Offers a Glimpse of the Future Legal Vape Market
Pennsylvania’s June 26 ENDS Pending Certifications list previews the state’s future legal vape market, placing Vuse, JUUL and Logic alongside Chinese-linked disposable brands OXBAR and LYCO. Shaped by PMTA eligibility and state rules, the list shows competition shifting from market share to market access.
Special Report
Jul.06
Illegal Vape Retailers in UK Could Face 12-Month Shutdowns
Illegal Vape Retailers in UK Could Face 12-Month Shutdowns
The UK government plans to expand police and trading standards powers by extending closure orders for shops selling illegal vapes and cigarettes from a maximum of six months to 12 months, in a crackdown on organised crime on high streets.
Jun.12
2Firsts Data | China’s Vape Exports Rise 3.1% in H1 2026 as 6-Methyl Nicotine-Related Products Surge 65.2%
2Firsts Data | China’s Vape Exports Rise 3.1% in H1 2026 as 6-Methyl Nicotine-Related Products Surge 65.2%
China’s vape exports showed resilience in the first half of 2026 after a short-term shock from China’s export rebate adjustment. But customs data points to more than a simple recovery: the structure of growth is changing. Vaping devices and atomization hardware emerged as the strongest growth driver, while nicotine-containing vaping products remained broadly stable. Meanwhile, nicotine substitute-related products represented by 6-methyl nicotine expanded rapidly, becoming a new category to watch for both industry and regulators. After the U.S. market went through a cycle of shortages, replenishment and inventory rebuilding in 2025, China’s vape supply chain is entering a new phase of reallocation.
Special Report
Jul.20
From Heating Blades to Heating Paper? CTHB Patent Points to Microwave Heated Tobacco Design
From Heating Blades to Heating Paper? CTHB Patent Points to Microwave Heated Tobacco Design
According to China’s patent office records, a patent owned by China Tobacco Hubei Industrial Corporation (CTHB) for “cigarette paper and a cigarette for microwave heating” was granted on May 19, 2026. The patent describes cigarette paper with an outer wrapping layer, a heating layer, and an isolation heat-conducting layer, allowing it to absorb microwave energy, convert it to heat, and transfer that heat to the aerosol-generating substrate.
Jun.10
BREAKING | China’s Tobacco Regulator Summons iMiracle Over Suspected Compliance Breaches
BREAKING | China’s Tobacco Regulator Summons iMiracle Over Suspected Compliance Breaches
Based on public records reviewed by 2Firsts, this is the first time China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration has publicly announced regulatory talks with an e-cigarette company.
Jul.29
BAT Restructuring to Affect 9,000 Roles as Tobacco Group Pushes Cost Cuts and AI
BAT Restructuring to Affect 9,000 Roles as Tobacco Group Pushes Cost Cuts and AI
British American Tobacco (BAT) plans to cut about 5,500 jobs globally and shift around 3,500 roles to strategic partners by the end of 2026, affecting about 9,000 roles in total, as the company seeks to simplify operations, strengthen technology capabilities and deliver £600 million in annual savings by 2028.
BAT
Jun.29