KT&G and PMI Extend Global E-cigarette Collaboration

Jan.30.2023
KT&G and PMI Extend Global E-cigarette Collaboration
KT&G and PMI renewed a 15-year contract to sell their non-combustible products globally, helping with KT&G's overseas market position.

According to a report by Yonhap News Agency on January 30th, Korea Tobacco & Ginseng Corporation (KT&G) and Philip Morris International (PMI) have extended a supply contract for 15 years. KT&G will distribute its three types of non-burning heated products through PMI's global sales network, except in South Korea.


The products include the Lil Solid, Lil Hybrid, and Lil Aible devices, as well as their corresponding proprietary pods named Fiit, Miix, and Aiim.


During a press conference, KT&G CEO Baek Bok-in stated that this collaboration will help strengthen KT&G's position for smokeless products in international markets. The extension of the three-year strategic agreement signed with PMI in 2020 will also lay the foundation for stable growth in their global business.


KT&G Corporation recently announced during an investor event that it aims to double its sales by 2027, reaching a total of 10 trillion Korean won (approximately $8.1 billion USD). The company plans to obtain more than half of these revenues from their overseas businesses, while also strengthening their next-generation product (NGP) division, which includes heated non-burning (HnB) products and functional health foods.


According to reports, 90% of KT&G's current revenue comes from cigarette sales and the remaining 10% comes from their HnB products. The company has four tobacco manufacturing plants located in South Korea, Russia, Turkey, and Indonesia with a yearly production capacity of 13.6 billion units. Since signing an agreement with Philip Morris International in 2020, KT&G has expanded the export of their HnB products to over 30 countries.


Sources:


KT&G has set a goal of generating 50% of its sales from overseas markets by 2027.


KT&G and PMI have extended their partnership to expand their presence in global markets with e-cigarettes.



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.

Pennsylvania Vape Directory Enforcement Starts Oct. 19, Barring Retail Sales of Unlisted Products
Pennsylvania Vape Directory Enforcement Starts Oct. 19, Barring Retail Sales of Unlisted Products
Pennsylvania's Act 57 vape directory regime will reach the end of its 120-day inventory transition period on Oct. 19. Nicotine-containing e-cigarettes intended for retail sale in the state that are not listed on the Attorney General's ENDS directory will then be barred from retail sale and treated as contraband subject to seizure, forfeiture and destruction. Manufacturers face annual product certification, brand- and style-based fees and a minimum $50,000 surety bond, while retailers and wholesalers must source through licensed channels and monitor the directory.
Regulations
Oct.08
FRE and ALP Push Modern Oral to 48% of Q2 Sales as Turning Point Brands Changes CEO and Lowers Profit-Guidance Ceiling
FRE and ALP Push Modern Oral to 48% of Q2 Sales as Turning Point Brands Changes CEO and Lowers Profit-Guidance Ceiling
Turning Point Brands said Executive Chairman David E. Glazek will become CEO on October 1, replacing Graham Purdy, who is stepping down for personal reasons. The company narrowed its 2026 adjusted EBITDA outlook to $70 million-$80 million from $70 million-$90 million while maintaining Modern Oral gross sales guidance of $330 million-$350 million and net sales guidance of $260 million-$270 million. In the second quarter, Modern Oral net sales rose 128% to $68.4 million and accounted for 48% of company-wide net sales. Adjusted EBITDA fell 50% year over year. TPB shares closed about 10% lower on September 21.
Market
Sep.22 by 2Firsts Perspectives
JUUL Purchasers Ask Ninth Circuit to Preserve Antitrust Classes in Case Over Altria’s $12.8 Billion Investment
JUUL Purchasers Ask Ninth Circuit to Preserve Antitrust Classes in Case Over Altria’s $12.8 Billion Investment
Private antitrust litigation stemming from Altria's 2018 $12.8 billion investment for a 35% economic interest in JUUL is advancing before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Direct purchasers, indirect purchasers and indirect resellers of JUUL products filed answering briefs this week seeking to preserve class certifications granted by a California federal court in February. Altria and JUUL argue that individual consumers and large distributors differ too much in purchasing terms to remain in a single direct-purchaser class, while a separate dispute concerns whether California antitrust law can apply to indirect purchasers across 27 jurisdictions. A September trial has been put on hold during the appeal.
Sep.23
Product | Philip Morris Japan Teams Up With Renowned French Audio Brand DEVIALET for Limited-Edition IQOS Priced 60% Above Standard Model
Product | Philip Morris Japan Teams Up With Renowned French Audio Brand DEVIALET for Limited-Edition IQOS Priced 60% Above Standard Model
Philip Morris Japan (PMJ) launched the limited-edition IQOS ILUMA i PRIME Soundsorial Model in collaboration with French audio brand DEVIALET on October 1, 2026. Featuring sound-wave patterns, a silver-and-black finish and a gradient holder, the heated tobacco device is priced at JPY 15,980, including tax, and is available at four IQOS stores in Japan. According to Japanese media citing a PMJ representative, about 1,900 units were allocated to the Japanese retail market. A separate Soundsorial Collection, combining the device with DEVIALET Gemini II earbuds, includes 440 sets allocated to Japan for a membership prize draw.
product
Oct.23
India Duty-Free Nicotine Pouch Sales Face Regulatory Test as ZYN, FOX Classification Remains Open
India Duty-Free Nicotine Pouch Sales Face Regulatory Test as ZYN, FOX Classification Remains Open
The Bombay High Court has ruled that airport duty-free shops are not exempt from India's domestic regulatory laws merely because they operate beyond the customs barrier, leaving in place a sales halt covering ZYN and FOX nicotine pouches at Mumbai's international airport. The court, however, did not determine that the products necessarily qualify as "drugs" under India's Drugs and Cosmetics Act. The retailers have four weeks to submit product information to the appropriate authorities, including CDSCO, which must complete its review within 30 days of receiving the submissions.
Sep.24
Smoore Seeks to Toss CCELL Price-Fixing Claim as Court Weighs Vertical Distribution Versus Horizontal Conspiracy
Smoore Seeks to Toss CCELL Price-Fixing Claim as Court Weighs Vertical Distribution Versus Horizontal Conspiracy
Smoore and four authorized U.S. CCELL distributors are asking a California federal court to permanently dismiss a core antitrust claim brought by direct purchasers. Plaintiffs allege that Smoore coordinated minimum wholesale prices, customer allocation and limits on price competition among distributors, amounting to a per se unlawful horizontal conspiracy. The defendants say the alleged conduct reflects ordinary vertical relationships between a manufacturer and its distributors. The court previously dismissed a similar claim, and the latest dispute centers on whether the second amended complaint adds sufficient facts to establish a horizontal agreement.
Sep.14