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.

South Korea Vape Strategies Diverge as BAT Reconsiders Exit and PMI Takes VEEV to About 14,000 Stores
South Korea Vape Strategies Diverge as BAT Reconsiders Exit and PMI Takes VEEV to About 14,000 Stores
BAT Rothmans says it previously considered exiting South Korea's vaping market because of competitive pressure from unregulated products, but is now reassessing conditions following changes to the country's nicotine regulatory framework. Vuse and other BAT vaping products remain available through existing distribution channels. The statement followed a South Korean media report that interpreted BAT's broader withdrawal from selected Vapour markets as a full exit from South Korea. Meanwhile, Philip Morris International launched VEEV inPRIME in the country in June and began expanding distribution to around 14,000 convenience stores and other retail channels in July. The contrasting moves highlight differing investment strategies as South Korea's regulated vaping market evolves.
Aug.14
Product | Summo 150K Introduces Refillable Design With Up to 150,000 Puffs, Exploring a New High-Capacity Vape Format
Product | Summo 150K Introduces Refillable Design With Up to 150,000 Puffs, Exploring a New High-Capacity Vape Format
Summo has introduced the Summo 150K Refillable Disposable Vape, entering the ultra-high-puff vape segment with a claimed capacity of up to 150,000 puffs. The device combines a 40ml dual e-liquid system, transparent tank design, dual mesh coils and a 900mAh rechargeable battery, using a refillable structure to differentiate itself from conventional disposable vapes. The product appeared on overseas online retail channels including Vapesourcing and VapeBarTime between late June and early July 2026.
Jul.22
Product | Philip Morris Korea Launches TEREA Limona Pearl, Expanding Fresh Blend Capsule Lineup to Five
Product | Philip Morris Korea Launches TEREA Limona Pearl, Expanding Fresh Blend Capsule Lineup to Five
Philip Morris Korea launched TEREA Limona Pearl in South Korea on August 31, 2026, expanding the TEREA Fresh Blend capsule tobacco stick lineup from four variants to five. Designed for the IQOS ILUMA series, the new stick combines a capsule with what the company calls a Fresh Filter. Philip Morris Korea describes the product as offering an aromatic, refreshing flavor profile with a cooling sensation, with an additional fresh note released when the capsule is crushed. The recommended retail price is KRW 4,800 per pack, with sales through IQOS stores and convenience stores nationwide. No reliable evidence has been found that the same Limona Pearl SKU was previously officially launched in another major IQOS market.
Sep.01
BAT Calls for Retailer Input in Future Nicotine Regulations
BAT Calls for Retailer Input in Future Nicotine Regulations
British American Tobacco (BAT) has called for stronger retailer involvement in shaping future nicotine product regulations in the UK, arguing that frontline market feedback should be considered during policy development. BAT said retailers provide direct insight into consumer behavior, market changes and regulatory implementation challenges. The comments come as the UK nicotine market undergoes regulatory changes, including the disposable vape ban, Vaping Products Duty and efforts to address illicit vape sales.
Jul.29
Trump Picks White House Health Policy Aide Heidi Overton to Lead FDA, Pending Senate Confirmation
Trump Picks White House Health Policy Aide Heidi Overton to Lead FDA, Pending Senate Confirmation
U.S. President Donald Trump has chosen White House health policy aide Heidi Overton to lead the Food and Drug Administration, Bloomberg reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. Overton currently works on health policy at the White House and previously held a senior role at the America First Policy Institute. If confirmed by the Senate, she would take over an FDA that has experienced months of senior-level turnover. The agency regulates products representing roughly one-fifth of U.S. consumer spending, including e-cigarettes, drugs, vaccines and much of the food supply.
News
Aug.19
EU Trade Department Faces Scrutiny Over Contacts With Tobacco Industry
EU Trade Department Faces Scrutiny Over Contacts With Tobacco Industry
European Ombudswoman Teresa Anjinho has opened an inquiry into how the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade handles interactions with the tobacco industry. The case follows a complaint from a civil society organisation that alleges regular, unnecessary and non-transparent contacts between DG TRADE and tobacco industry representatives, raising questions over compliance with the EU’s obligations under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The inquiry remains ongoing, and the Ombudswoman has not reached any finding of maladministration.
Aug.24