Indiana vape tax to go into effect July 1

China National Tobacco Corporation and several subsidiaries plan to invest a combined CNY 60 billion ($8.7 billion) in share placements by Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and Agricultural Bank of China as strategic investors. The agreements extend beyond equity investment to corporate governance, banking services and supply-chain finance. The filings also disclose 2025 data on China Tobacco’s tax and profit contributions and industry scale.

Jinhua Tobacco, a municipal tobacco company in China’s Zhejiang province, has launched a public tender for e-cigarette-related violation lead monitoring and consulting services. The project is valued at CNY 2.7 million and covers data resource integration and analytical consulting services for 36 months from contract signing. The procurement reflects the use of external data and analysis services to support local tobacco companies’ market oversight activities related to e-cigarettes.

Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) has introduced the Ploom AURA Glacier White heated tobacco device in Japan, adding a new color option to the existing Ploom AURA lineup. The device maintains the existing SMART HEATFLOW technology and HEAT SELECT SYSTEM with four heating modes, while expanding the ecosystem through new accessories including front panels, back covers, a car holder and wireless charging covers. The product entered pre-sale in Japan on June 30, 2026, followed by broader retail availability from July 7.

New Zealand Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said legal tobacco sales in the country have fallen by more than half over the past decade, with sales declining more than 20% in 2025 compared with the previous year. She warned that the decline may not fully reflect lower smoking rates, as increased availability of illicit cigarettes could also be contributing. The government said it would continue strengthening tobacco and vape retail enforcement while monitoring the impact of illicit tobacco on public health and tax revenue.

The League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) has urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to prioritize the Smoke- and Vape-Free Bill, seeking a nationwide legal framework for tobacco and vape regulation. Local government leaders said national legislation would help standardize enforcement and strengthen public health measures. The proposal remains at the advocacy stage and has not yet become law.

According to South Korea’s UpKorea, KT&G’s heated tobacco brand Lil reached a 47.4% share of Korea’s heated tobacco stick market in the first quarter of 2026. The company is expanding its next-generation products (NGP) business through product development, technology investment and overseas growth. KT&G reported NGP sales of 890.1 billion won (approximately US$650 million) in 2025, up significantly from 279.3 billion won in 2020. Lil products are now available in 34 markets, while KT&G continues building its technology portfolio through patents and multiple product platforms.