Insights on the Current and Future Trends of the E-cigarette Supply Chain

Aug.21.2023
Insights on the Current and Future Trends of the E-cigarette Supply Chain
2FIRSTS Releases E-Cigarette Supply Chain Survey Report on Industry Trends and Performance in First Half of 2023.

As the e-cigarette industry continues to flourish, both the industry itself and the public have gained a deeper understanding of the e-cigarette supply chain. In order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the various aspects of the e-cigarette supply chain and investigate its current state, 2FIRSTS released a survey on the e-cigarette supply chain for the first half of 2023 on July 10th.


The investigation covered the current state and future prospects of supply chain companies in the e-cigarette industry. A total of 45 valid questionnaires were received, providing valuable information for the e-cigarette supply chain. Through the analysis of these data, a series of results reflecting the current industry status and future trends were obtained, which have been compiled into a report for this survey.


Outstanding performance in the first half of the year.


According to the data, more than 60% of companies achieved growth in the first half of 2023, with 11.9% even exceeding expectations. On the other hand, 19.0% of companies experienced a decline in performance as expected, while 16.7% saw a performance decline that surpassed expectations.


Optimistic Outlook for the Future of the Middle Eastern Market


In terms of market outlook for the second half of 2023, the Middle East market has received the highest rating with an average score of 4.05. Following closely behind are the Southeast Asia, Continental Europe, UK, and US markets, with scores of 3.61, 3.58, 3.41, and 3.05 respectively. However, supply chain companies have expressed a pessimistic outlook for the Russian market, giving it a meager score of 2.72.


The global atomization market is expected to continue to grow.


More than 80% of e-cigarette supply chain companies believe that the global vaporization market will continue to grow in the second half of the year. Among them, 17.8% of companies predict high growth in the market, while less than 20% of companies believe that the market will either maintain low growth or not grow at all.


The policy represents the instability of the e-cigarette market.


According to a survey, 40% of e-cigarette supply chain companies believe that the policies implemented by various countries have had a negative impact on their performance expectations. On the other hand, 33.3% of companies believe that these policies have not had a significant impact, while 26.7% believe that they have had a positive impact.


Innovative disposable e-cigarettes have become the center of attention.


In terms of product categories, disposable e-cigarettes and innovative disposable e-cigarettes have become the focus of attention for supply chain companies in the second half of 2023. However, depending on the region, the American and British markets show higher interest in innovative disposable e-cigarettes compared to disposable e-cigarettes. In the European continental market, the level of interest in various categories of e-cigarettes is similar, while the Southeast Asian, Middle Eastern, and Russian markets primarily focus on disposable e-cigarettes.


The above is a section of the survey conducted by 2FIRSTS on the e-cigarette supply chain. If you would like to obtain the complete version of the survey report and gain a detailed understanding of the current status and future trends of the e-cigarette supply chain, please click on the link below to access the full report.



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.

From a 2017 Launch to 48% of South Korea’s Heated Tobacco Market, KT&G Looks Back on a Decade of lil
From a 2017 Launch to 48% of South Korea’s Heated Tobacco Market, KT&G Looks Back on a Decade of lil
KT&G announced on Aug. 13, 2026, that it has opened “lil Archive,” a brand exhibition space in Seoul showcasing the evolution, technology platforms and future direction of its heated tobacco brand lil since its launch in 2017. KT&G said lil now spans three major platforms — lil SOLID, lil HYBRID and lil AIBLE — with more than 30 dedicated consumables, and held a 48% share of South Korea's heated tobacco market in the second quarter of 2026. The opening comes as lil enters its 10th year, with KT&G continuing to position the brand for expansion beyond its domestic market.
Aug.14
China Discloses First Criminal Case Over Counterfeit Vapes Disguised as “Medical Nebulizers” and “Zero-Nicotine” Products
China Discloses First Criminal Case Over Counterfeit Vapes Disguised as “Medical Nebulizers” and “Zero-Nicotine” Products
Chinese authorities have disclosed the country’s first reported criminal case involving counterfeit vapes marketed as “medical nebulizers” and “zero-nicotine” products. Authorities determined that the products involved were counterfeit vapes and pursued criminal charges for producing and selling counterfeit goods. According to the report, the case resulted in the seizure of 347,000 counterfeit vape pods and 53,700 vape devices, with physical goods valued at 22.13 million yuan.
Aug.04
Philippines Customs Seizes PHP11.68 Billion($200 Million) in Illegal Tobacco and Vapes in First Seven Months of 2026
Philippines Customs Seizes PHP11.68 Billion($200 Million) in Illegal Tobacco and Vapes in First Seven Months of 2026
Philippines Customs data showed that illegal cigarettes and vape products seized during the first seven months of 2026 were valued at about PHP11.68 billion, exceeding the PHP2.516 billion recorded for the full year of 2025. The figures were disclosed by a Bureau of Customs official during a House Committee on Ways and Means hearing on tobacco excise tax reforms. Vape-related seizures were valued at about PHP1.65 billion, with most cases recorded at the Manila International Container Port. Customs officials said enforcement against illicit tobacco trade would continue.
Aug.26
Kumulus Vape2026 H1 Revenue Falls 8.3% but Profit Rises 24% as B2B Weakens and Consumer Channels Grow
Kumulus Vape2026 H1 Revenue Falls 8.3% but Profit Rises 24% as B2B Weakens and Consumer Channels Grow
French vaping company Kumulus Vape reported first-half 2026 revenue of €25.5 million, down 8.3% year over year, as its core B2B distribution business fell 11% to €21.6 million. B2C and store-network revenue rose 5.6% and 17.8%, respectively. Commercial margin increased to 26.3% from 21.7%, while net profit rose 24.1% to €0.8 million. The company attributed the profitability improvement to catalog optimization, logistics restructuring and the ramp-up of Labster, its in-house production unit for proprietary brands.
Market
Sep.17 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Kantar Study Finds More Than 93% of Vape Products in Ukraine Fail Regulatory Requirements
Kantar Study Finds More Than 93% of Vape Products in Ukraine Fail Regulatory Requirements
According to Interfax-Ukraine, a study conducted by market research firm Kantar Ukraine at the request of major tobacco companies found that more than 93% of vape products in Ukraine did not fully comply with regulatory requirements. The research examined product categories, brand distribution and consumer purchasing channels, showing that pod systems and disposable vapes represent major segments of the market, while offline retail remains the dominant purchasing channel. The findings highlight ongoing compliance challenges in Ukraine’s vape market.
Aug.26
PMI CEO Attends Opening of IQOS Global Flagship in Tokyo’s Ginza as 1,814 Limited ILUMA i PRIME Sets Launch
PMI CEO Attends Opening of IQOS Global Flagship in Tokyo’s Ginza as 1,814 Limited ILUMA i PRIME Sets Launch
IQOS opened its first global flagship, IQOS Flagship Ginza, in Tokyo on September 4, 2026, replacing the former IQOS Store Ginza after nearly a decade of operation. The new location expands conventional product retail into member lounges, digital experiences, art installations and brand programming. IQOS also launched a Ginza-exclusive IQOS ILUMA i PRIME set limited to 1,814 individually numbered units, priced at JPY11,980, or about US$77. PMI Sales Strategy Consultant Yuji M. later said on LinkedIn that more than 500 people had lined up from the night before the opening.
Sep.07