PUFFMI's Strategy and Trends in Russia's E-Cigarette Market

Jun.17.2023
PUFFMI's Strategy and Trends in Russia's E-Cigarette Market
The PUFFMI brand showcased their large capacity, disposable e-cigarette products at the Russian trade show, catering to growing demand.

Special Statement:


This article is intended for internal industry research and communication purposes only and does not endorse any specific brand or product. Access is prohibited for minors.


At 12:00 Moscow time (17:00 Beijing time), the e-cigarette exhibition in Moscow, Russia's Crocus Expo exhibition center, opened. The event attracted numerous industry professionals, vendors, and consumers.


At the exhibition, 2FIRSTS conducted an exclusive interview with Songyu Yin, the regional sales representative of e-cigarette brand PUFFMI in Russia. He shared his insights on the Russian market and the brand strategy on behalf of the renowned e-cigarette brand PUFFMI.


The number of people expressing their opinions loudly is a trend.


At the exhibition, PUFFMI showcased their disposable e-cigarette products with a high mouth count, including options with 9,000 and 7,000 puffs.


Yin Songyu stated that these products have received very positive feedback. According to him, these products with oversized mouthpieces will hit the market in early July. Currently, PUFFMI has introduced disposable products with 4000 and 5000 mouthpieces in the Russian market, but still lacks products with even larger mouthpieces.


Yin Songyu pointed out that there is a growing demand among Russian consumers for large-sized disposable e-cigarette products. This trend seems to differ greatly from the mainstream e-cigarette consumer markets in Europe and the United States, where the focus is not on high numbers but on other factors.


The exhibit items showcased at the PUFFMI booth | Photo source: 2FIRSTS


Yin Songyu analyzed that first of all, in products with a small price gap, this type of product has a higher cost-effectiveness.


Furthermore, many consumers do not like to frequent physical stores for their purchases. They prefer to make a one-time purchase of a high-capacity e-cigarette.


This will be a trend in Russia.


Large numbers are still a trend.


Chasing the pod system.


In Russia, where disposable products are already the norm, major e-cigarette manufacturers are now focusing on developing pod systems. This shift is being driven by both economic and regulatory factors.


Yin Songyu candidly acknowledged that most mainstream Russian brands are pushing for the development of refillable products, as the tobacco stick itself is not subject to taxation. Compared to the e-liquid excise tax of 20 rubles per milliliter for disposable products, refillable products can achieve lower costs in the future. Additionally, given the increasingly stringent regulatory trend, this means that refillable products have greater potential in terms of market growth.


Tourists walk past the promotional image at the PUFFMI booth | Image source: 2FIRSTS


About 90% of the products on the market are considered to be in a gray zone.


He believes that a complete ban on flavored e-cigarettes is unlikely based on the series of regulations regarding e-cigarette passed by the National Duma. As for the list of additives and substances, he thinks that only the use of some harmful substances may be banned.


The new brand showcased at the PUFFMI booth | Image source: 2FIRSTS


The recent new policies have led to an increase in demand for Bai Guan products in the Russian market, and legalization of the market would be advantageous for the PUFFMI brand. Yin Songyu stated that the brand is anticipating the legalization of the market, as most of the current market is made up of illegal products.


Ninety percent of the products are mediocre.


He highlighted that the ratio between white tariffs and grey tariffs would be adjusted based on market demand.


It is worth mentioning that PUFFMI brand does not engage in online sales in the Russian market, but instead relies on offline sales channels.


Finally, Yin Songyu expressed confidence in PUFFMI's potential in the Russian market and has high hopes for the future development of the PUFFMI brand in Russia.



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.

2Firsts Data | China’s Vape Exports Rise 3.1% in H1 2026 as 6-Methyl Nicotine-Related Products Surge 65.2%
2Firsts Data | China’s Vape Exports Rise 3.1% in H1 2026 as 6-Methyl Nicotine-Related Products Surge 65.2%
China’s vape exports showed resilience in the first half of 2026 after a short-term shock from China’s export rebate adjustment. But customs data points to more than a simple recovery: the structure of growth is changing. Vaping devices and atomization hardware emerged as the strongest growth driver, while nicotine-containing vaping products remained broadly stable. Meanwhile, nicotine substitute-related products represented by 6-methyl nicotine expanded rapidly, becoming a new category to watch for both industry and regulators. After the U.S. market went through a cycle of shortages, replenishment and inventory rebuilding in 2025, China’s vape supply chain is entering a new phase of reallocation.
Special Report
Jul.20
UK Sets Oct. 29 Start for New Vape Retail Rules Covering Age Checks, Giveaways and Discounts
UK Sets Oct. 29 Start for New Vape Retail Rules Covering Age Checks, Giveaways and Discounts
The UK Department of Health and Social Care published new guidance on Aug. 11 outlining the next phase of retail rules under the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, which will take effect on Oct. 29, 2026. The measures extend the minimum age of sale of 18 to all vaping and consumer nicotine products and restrict proxy purchasing, promotional giveaways and substantial discounts. Relevant offences in England, Wales and Scotland may carry a £200 fixed penalty notice, while persistent offenders can face temporary sales bans.
Aug.12
Product | BAT Expands VELO Travellers’ Collection With Mexico, Spain and Sweden Summer Edition Nicotine Pouches
Product | BAT Expands VELO Travellers’ Collection With Mexico, Spain and Sweden Summer Edition Nicotine Pouches
British American Tobacco (BAT) Global Travel Retail has expanded the VELO Travellers’ Collection with three new Summer Editions: Mexico, Spain and Sweden. Inspired by destination themes, the new nicotine pouch variants are designed for global travel-retail channels. The launch further strengthens VELO’s positioning as a travel-retail exclusive product collection.
Aug.27
UK Reform Party Proposes Cap of 1,000 Vape Shops Under Plan to Tighten Retail Controls
UK Reform Party Proposes Cap of 1,000 Vape Shops Under Plan to Tighten Retail Controls
The UK Reform Party has proposed limiting the number of dedicated vape shops in the country to around 1,000 as part of a plan to tighten oversight of vape retail channels. The proposal was put forward by Reform UK deputy leader and MP Lee Anderson. The plan remains a political proposal and has not become UK government policy, with no detailed legislation, implementation timeline or allocation rules announced.
Aug.10
Product | HQD SiSA 80K Enters the U.S. Market With a Hookah-Inspired Approach to the High-Capacity Disposable Segment
Product | HQD SiSA 80K Enters the U.S. Market With a Hookah-Inspired Approach to the High-Capacity Disposable Segment
The HQD SiSA 80K Hookah Disposable Vape has appeared across U.S. and cross-border online retail channels. The device comes prefilled with 28ml of e-liquid, uses a 5% nicotine salt configuration and carries a brand claim of up to 80,000 puffs. Beyond puff count, the product differentiates itself through hookah-inspired features including adjustable airflow, a flowing-water sound effect and flavor options associated with traditional hookah consumption.
Aug.18
Yinghe-Controlled Vape Maker SKE Ordered to Post £569,039 Security as It Pursues Crystal Bar Design Infringement Case in UK
Yinghe-Controlled Vape Maker SKE Ordered to Post £569,039 Security as It Pursues Crystal Bar Design Infringement Case in UK
The UK High Court has ordered Chinese vape manufacturer Shenzhen SKE Technology to provide £569,039 ($776,000) in security for costs in its design infringement proceedings against Vapepen London and other defendants over its Crystal Bar vape product. The court did not accept the defendants’ main argument that recovering costs from a China-based company would face significant enforcement obstacles, but found that SKE had not sufficiently disclosed its own financial position. The order is procedural and does not determine the underlying infringement claims.
News
Aug.21