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.

Product | KT&G Launches lil HYBRID 3.0 Misty Rosé Edition II in South Korea With Two Pink Finishes at 88,000 Won
Product | KT&G Launches lil HYBRID 3.0 Misty Rosé Edition II in South Korea With Two Pink Finishes at 88,000 Won
South Korean tobacco company KT&G launched the limited-edition lil HYBRID 3.0 Misty Rosé Edition II on September 30, 2026, following the original Misty Rosé Edition introduced in November 2025. The new release comes in two pink finishes, Bloom Rosé and Viva Rosé, each priced at 88,000 won. Both versions initially went on sale through the lil Store online shop and lil MINIMALIUM flagship stores. From October 7, Bloom Rosé became available at approximately 1,500 lil Station retail outlets nationwide. The release retains the existing lil HYBRID 3.0 hybrid heated tobacco platform, with changes focused on exterior design and distribution.
product
Oct.10
JTI Invests ₱2.1 Billion to Upgrade Batangas Manufacturing Hub, Adds First Southeast Asia DIET Facility
JTI Invests ₱2.1 Billion to Upgrade Batangas Manufacturing Hub, Adds First Southeast Asia DIET Facility
JTI Asia Manufacturing Corp. has invested ₱2.1 billion, or about $37 million, in its manufacturing site in Malvar, Batangas, Philippines, to expand tobacco-processing capabilities. About ₱1.9 billion is allocated to JTI's first Dry Ice Expanded Tobacco, or DIET, facility in Southeast Asia, while more than ₱177 million has been spent on expanding its Controlled Atmosphere treatment facility. The Batangas plant supplies the Philippine market and exports to 22 overseas markets, making it one of JTI's key manufacturing hubs in Asia.
Sep.24
U.S. Rep. Krishnamoorthi Questions FDA Over Planned PMTA Rewrite, Seeks Communications With Altria and Reynolds
U.S. Rep. Krishnamoorthi Questions FDA Over Planned PMTA Rewrite, Seeks Communications With Altria and Reynolds
U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi on Oct. 6 questioned the FDA over its plan to reassess and potentially replace the 2021 PMTA regulatory framework, asking the agency to identify provisions it may change or eliminate, state whether current scientific evidentiary standards will be maintained, and disclose communications with Altria, Reynolds and other parties challenging the rule. Krishnamoorthi led a congressional investigation into JUUL and youth vaping in 2019 and has since remained active on e-cigarette regulation and enforcement.
Regulations
Oct.08
Product | Philip Morris Korea Launches Two TEREA ONYX Capsule Tobacco Sticks, Expanding Portfolio to Five Lines
Product | Philip Morris Korea Launches Two TEREA ONYX Capsule Tobacco Sticks, Expanding Portfolio to Five Lines
Philip Morris Korea launched TEREA ONYX, a new tobacco stick line for IQOS ILUMA devices, on October 15, 2026. The initial products, AMANG PEARL and CALI PEARL, feature tropical-inspired flavors, Fresh Filters and capsules designed to deliver different flavor experiences before and after activation. Both are priced at KRW 4,800 per pack and are available at convenience stores nationwide and IQOS-operated stores in South Korea. The launch expands the Korean TEREA portfolio from four product lines to five, following earlier capsule tobacco stick additions in 2026.
product
Oct.23
2Firsts Data|China’s Vape-Related Exports Rose 3.3% in August 2026 as UK Shipments Jumped 51.4% and U.S. Exports Fell 12.4%
2Firsts Data|China’s Vape-Related Exports Rose 3.3% in August 2026 as UK Shipments Jumped 51.4% and U.S. Exports Fell 12.4%
China exported $979 million of vape-related products in August 2026, up 3.3% from a year earlier but down 6.4% from July. The UK replaced the U.S. as the main source of growth: UK-bound shipments jumped 51.4% to a 2026 high of $177 million, while exports to the U.S. fell 12.4% to $339 million. Shipments to markets outside the U.S. increased 14.2%, broadening growth beyond the market that had driven July’s rebound.
News
Sep.23 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Germany's Four-Year Tobacco Tax Plan Heads to Parliament as BAT, JTI and PMI Push for Changes
Germany's Four-Year Tobacco Tax Plan Heads to Parliament as BAT, JTI and PMI Push for Changes
Germany's parliament is scheduled to hold a first reading of amendments to the Tobacco Tax Act on September 24. The government plans annual tax increases from 2027 through 2030 covering cigarettes, heated tobacco, vaping liquids and other categories. It expects the reform to generate €756 million in additional revenue in 2027, rising to €3.589 billion in additional annual revenue by 2030. Ahead of the parliamentary debate, the German Association of the Tobacco Industry and Novel Products, or BVTE, launched the "Tabaksteuer mit Augenmaß" campaign backed by BAT, JTI, Philip Morris, Reemtsma and wholesale and retail groups.
Sep.23