FLER at APE

China’s e-cigarette export value declined to $694 million in April 2026, marking the lowest April level in the past three years. The data is notable because April was the first full month after China removed export VAT rebates for certain e-cigarette products. Compared with April 2025, export value fell 20.9%; compared with April 2024, it was down 22.3%. Month-on-month, exports dropped 23.2% from March 2026.

According to South Korean media reports, KT&G has expanded sales of its heated tobacco device lil AIBLE 3.0 to convenience stores across Seoul starting May 13. The convenience-store version is offered in the exclusive OUD GRAY color. On the same day, KT&G also launched two new dedicated consumables for the lil AIBLE platform—AIIM REMIX and AIIM ICESPOT—at convenience stores nationwide, each priced at KRW 4,800.

Altria Group reported its first-quarter 2026 results on April 30. Net revenues were $5.43 billion, up 3.2% year on year, while revenues net of excise taxes were $4.76 billion, up 5.3%. Reported diluted EPS was $1.30, up more than 100%, and adjusted diluted EPS was $1.32, up 7.3%.

According to Bloomberg, Philip Morris International’s Zyn is facing growing competition in the U.S. nicotine pouch market as consumers shift toward moister alternatives such as British American Tobacco’s Velo Plus.

Several European sports outlets have reported on a suspected nicotine pouch seen in French footballer Michael Olise’s locker photo, bringing football’s long-running “snus” culture back into public view and highlighting brand visibility, product classification and public-health debate around nicotine pouches in sports settings.

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.