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 | JNR Launches Crown Shisha 100K for International Wholesale, Pairing 58ml Capacity With Triple-Mesh DTL Design
Product | JNR Launches Crown Shisha 100K for International Wholesale, Pairing 58ml Capacity With Triple-Mesh DTL Design
JNR released the Crown Shisha 100K on August 14, 2026, positioning the ultra-high-capacity disposable around a direct-to-lung (DTL) e-shisha experience. The device combines a 58ml e-liquid capacity, triple 1.0Ω mesh coils and a 1,300mAh rechargeable battery, with JNR claiming up to 100,000 puffs. Adjustable airflow, battery and e-liquid status displays, a leather-style exterior and a shisha-inspired sound effect further differentiate the product. JNR is currently promoting the device through international wholesale and distribution channels, while a specific first retail market has not been disclosed.
Aug.31
RLX Technology Dropped From FTSE All-World as International Business Reaches 68.5% of Q2 Revenue
RLX Technology Dropped From FTSE All-World as International Business Reaches 68.5% of Q2 Revenue
RLX Technology (NYSE: RLX) has been removed from the FTSE All-World Index, effective September 21. FTSE Russell records show RLX was already part of its global equity index universe by 2022, when its American depositary receipts were classified as China Large Cap securities. Trading volume rose to about 44.77 million shares on September 18, roughly 23 times the previous session's volume. RLX reported RMB1.0105 billion in second-quarter revenue, up 14.8% year over year, with international operations contributing 68.5%. The company also acquired a 51% stake in one of Western Europe's largest distributors of next-generation smoke-free and FMCG products in July.
Sep.22
IQOS Enters Kantar BrandZ Global Top 100 for First Time, Valued at $36.6 Billion and Ranked No. 74
IQOS Enters Kantar BrandZ Global Top 100 for First Time, Valued at $36.6 Billion and Ranked No. 74
Philip Morris International’s IQOS has entered the Kantar BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands for the first time, ranking No. 74 with a brand value of $36.634 billion and becoming one of only three newcomers to the 2026 ranking. Kantar said the combined value of the Global Top 100 reached $13.1 trillion, up 22% year on year, while the threshold for entry rose to a record high. PMI says IQOS has more than 35 million users worldwide and surpassed $10 billion in annual net revenues within a decade of launch.
Sep.03
Smoke-Free Business Hits 42% of Q2 Net Revenue as PMI’s First TNFD Report Covers Single-Use Electronics, Critical Raw Materials and IQOS Repairs
Smoke-Free Business Hits 42% of Q2 Net Revenue as PMI’s First TNFD Report Covers Single-Use Electronics, Critical Raw Materials and IQOS Repairs
Philip Morris International has published its first report aligned with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, bringing its electronics supply chain and the use and end-of-life stages of smoke-free devices and consumables into its nature-related assessment. PMI said its smoke-free business accounted for about 42% of total net revenues in the second quarter of 2026. The report says non-circular electronic products, particularly single-use items, can increase consumption of limited natural resources and also details an IQOS repair pilot. A 2040 circularity scenario tests assumptions including a 50% reduction in product waste-related costs, 10% raw-material savings and a 25% substitution rate for refurbished products versus new products.
Sep.23
Australian Coalition Taskforce Calls for 80% Tobacco Tax Cut to Combat Illicit Market
Australian Coalition Taskforce Calls for 80% Tobacco Tax Cut to Combat Illicit Market
According to SGST on August 26, 2026, Australia’s Coalition Illegal Tobacco Taskforce released a report recommending an up to 80% cut in tobacco excise to reduce the appeal of the illicit tobacco market. The report claimed organised crime groups now control about 80% of Australia’s tobacco market and argued that high excise rates have widened the price gap between legal and illegal products. The recommendation remains a policy proposal and has not been adopted by the Australian government, which said its focus remains on enforcement, compliance and additional resources.
Aug.27
2Firsts On-Site | PMI Brings IQOS, ZYN, VEEV and Marlboro Together at Its “Boulevard” at InterTabac 2026
2Firsts On-Site | PMI Brings IQOS, ZYN, VEEV and Marlboro Together at Its “Boulevard” at InterTabac 2026
At InterTabac 2026 in Dortmund, PMI is presenting multiple brands and products along “The PMI Boulevard,” including IQOS, ZYN, VEEV and Marlboro. On-site images captured by 2Firsts show dedicated spaces including the IQOS Boutique, ZYN Café, PMI Gallery and Marlboro Office
Market
Sep.16 by 2Firsts Perspectives