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.

Product | PMI Launches ZYN Melts in UK, Extending ZYN Beyond Nicotine Pouches Into Dissolvable Tablets
Product | PMI Launches ZYN Melts in UK, Extending ZYN Beyond Nicotine Pouches Into Dissolvable Tablets
Philip Morris International (PMI) has launched ZYN Melts in the UK, introducing a fully dissolvable oral nicotine tablet format alongside the brand's existing nicotine pouches. The range includes Cool Mint and Peppermint, each offered at 1mg and 2mg of nicotine per tablet, creating four SKUs. Each can contains 20 tablets and is priced at £6.50 in the UK. Unlike ZYN nicotine pouches, Melts are placed between the upper lip and gum and dissolve completely during use.
News
Sep.29 by 2Firsts Perspectives
JTI Liggett Puts U.S. Value Cigarette Brands in Spotlight at 2026 NACS Show
JTI Liggett Puts U.S. Value Cigarette Brands in Spotlight at 2026 NACS Show
At the 2026 NACS Show in Las Vegas, JTI Liggett highlighted its value-priced cigarette portfolio, including LD and Montego, following JT Group's acquisition of Vector Group. The company's U.S. business reported market share gains, with LD sales volume rising 32.6% in the first half of 2026. Meanwhile, Ploom was displayed separately at Altria's booth under an existing partnership. JTI Liggett booth staff told 2Firsts that the company had not yet launched nicotine pouch products in the United States.
EXPO
Oct.09
EU Tobacco Tax Reform Targets November Push as Sweden Holds Nicotine-Pouch Minimum at €20 per Kilogram
EU Tobacco Tax Reform Targets November Push as Sweden Holds Nicotine-Pouch Minimum at €20 per Kilogram
The Irish presidency of the Council of the European Union is using bilateral talks to push the bloc’s Tobacco Taxation Directive toward a political agreement in November. According to Law360, citing an EU official, Sweden is unwilling to accept a minimum excise threshold above €20 per kilogram for nicotine pouches. Council negotiations have already lowered the European Commission’s original proposal, but a May 2026 presidency compromise still set the minimum at 10% of the tax-inclusive retail price or €30 per kilogram in 2028-29, with higher levels later.
Market
Sep.17 by 2Firsts Perspectives
UK HMRC Issues One-Month Countdown Warning, Urges Vape Businesses to Prepare for New Tax Rules
UK HMRC Issues One-Month Countdown Warning, Urges Vape Businesses to Prepare for New Tax Rules
The UK’s Vaping Products Duty and Vaping Duty Stamps Scheme will take effect on October 1, 2026. All vaping liquids manufactured in or imported into the UK will face a flat excise duty of £2.20 per 10ml, whether or not they contain nicotine. Newly manufactured or imported products released onto the UK market from October 1 will require a valid duty stamp, while eligible existing unstamped inventory can continue to be sold through March 31, 2027. From April 1, 2027, all vaping products outside duty suspension must carry a valid stamp.
Sep.03
NAS 2026 | FDA CTP Director Says PMTA Pathway Is “Predicated on Tobacco Harm Reduction”
NAS 2026 | FDA CTP Director Says PMTA Pathway Is “Predicated on Tobacco Harm Reduction”
At the 2026 New Approaches Summit in New York, FDA Center for Tobacco Products Director Bret Koplow said the PMTA pathway is “predicated on tobacco harm reduction.” He outlined four CTP priorities: youth prevention, helping adults quit or switch to lower-risk products, improving relative-risk communication, and reducing unauthorized products. Koplow also addressed flavored e-cigarettes, public risk perceptions, industry credibility and efforts to make PMTA reviews more efficient and predictable.
Sep.26
JUUL2 Sued Within a Week of FDA Authorization as AJ Marketing Alleges Infringement of Programmable Vape Patent
JUUL2 Sued Within a Week of FDA Authorization as AJ Marketing Alleges Infringement of Programmable Vape Patent
Less than a week after JUUL2 received U.S. FDA marketing authorization on August 28, 2026, JUUL Labs was sued for patent infringement in federal court in Delaware. AJ Marketing LLC filed the complaint on September 3, alleging that both JUUL 1 and JUUL2 infringe U.S. Patent No. 8,851,068 B2. The patent covers aspects of programmable electronic vaporization devices, including controls over dose delivery, usage frequency and operating parameters. The plaintiff is seeking reasonable royalties and ongoing royalties tied to the remaining life of the patent. JUUL has not yet publicly responded to the case.
Sep.10