
In May of this year, KT&G released the "Lil Hybrid Ez" product.
KT&G announced on the 7th that their tobacco-type electronic cigarette "Lil" sold a total of 3.79 million units in domestic and international markets last year.
In 2017, KT&G launched the e-cigarette brand "Lil" in South Korea. Since then, they have introduced new device platforms such as "Lil Mini," "Lil Solid 2.0," and "Lil Hybrid.
According to data from KT&G, Lil's domestic market share increased from 16.1% in 2018 to 31.7% in 2019, almost doubling. In the second quarter of this year, Lil ranked first among Korean tobacco companies with a 47% share. Additionally, the cumulative sales of Lil devices exceeded 4 million units as of last year.
The company's assessment states that research and development efforts serve as the backbone of these achievements. KT&G established a specialized intellectual property organization in 2016 and expanded the job positions and patent compensation system for its researchers. Moreover, research and development investments have consistently grown over the years, with investment costs increasing significantly from KRW 4.1 billion in 2017 to KRW 21.4 billion last year.
KT&G is quickly expanding its presence in international markets. The company has signed a product supply contract with PMI (Philip Morris International) to expand overseas in Lille in 2020. Starting with three countries - Russia, Ukraine, and Japan - the export reaches have since expanded throughout the first quarter of this year, covering 25 countries including Southeast Asia and Europe.
KT&G, a South Korean tobacco company, is expanding its presence in Europe. It currently sells its products in eight countries including Poland, Greece, and Italy. To penetrate the European market further, the company is increasing its patent applications. According to the "2021 Korea Company European Patent Index" published by the European Patent Office in March, KT&G has applied for 233 patents in Europe, ranking third after Samsung and LG.
Foreign securities companies are also keeping an eye on Ryohir's overseas market growth. Kelly Jin, a researcher at Morgan Stanley, stated in last month's KT&G Q2 earnings report that "the sales growth rate of global electronic cigarettes is enough to attract investors' attention.
Statement:
This article is compiled from third-party information and is intended for industry-related communication and learning purposes only.
This article does not represent the views of 2FIRSTS, and 2FIRSTS cannot confirm the authenticity or accuracy of the article's content. The compilation of this article is solely for the purpose of industry-related exchange and research.
Due to limitations in our translation skills, the article may not fully convey the same meaning as the original text. Please refer to the original text for accuracy.
2FIRSTS maintains full alignment with the Chinese government regarding any domestic, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, or foreign statements and positions.
The ownership of copyright for compiled information belongs to the original media and author. If there is any infringement, please contact us for removal.
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.









