Sampoerna's HEETS Factory in West Java Inaugurated

Jan.19.2023
Sampoerna's HEETS Factory in West Java Inaugurated
Sampoerna, a subsidiary of Philip Morris International, held a ceremony for a new HEETS factory in Indonesia worth $186 million.

Philip Morris International's subsidiary in Indonesia, Sampoerna, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on January 12 in Karawang City, West Java for a factory that produces IQOS HEETSpod. The factory, which began construction in the fourth quarter of 2022 and has an investment of over $186 million, will serve customers in Indonesia and the Asia-Pacific region and aligns with the government's policies to encourage investment and increase finished product exports. Minister of Economic Affairs Coordination, Airlangga Hartarto, said during the opening ceremony that the investment will stimulate innovation and create value in other sectors, such as retail, agriculture, and research and development. PMI reports that the Indonesian factory is its seventh innovation factory for smokeless products worldwide and its first in Southeast Asia. Sampoerna CEO Vassilis Gkatzelis expressed gratitude to the Indonesian government for creating a favorable investment environment and for its commitment to maintaining economic stability. He also noted PMI's significant investment in smoking alternatives, with over $9 billion invested in developing, scientific research, and commercializing smoke-free tobacco products. IQOS first appeared in limited market tests in Indonesia in 2019 and has been listed in cities such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, and Bandung.


This document has been generated through artificial intelligence translation and is provided solely for the purposes of industry discourse and learning. Please note that the intellectual property rights of the content belong to the original media source or author. Owing to certain limitations in the translation process, there may be discrepancies between the translated text and the original content. We recommend referring to the original source for complete accuracy. In case of any inaccuracies, we invite you to reach out to us with corrections. If you believe any content has infringed upon your rights, please contact us immediately for its removal.

South Korean Court Strikes Down Health Levy on Vape Nicotine Liquids, Citing Disproportionate Penalties
South Korean Court Strikes Down Health Levy on Vape Nicotine Liquids, Citing Disproportionate Penalties
A Seoul court has annulled South Korea’s health-levy assessments imposed on multiple importers of nicotine liquids used for vaping. While the court agreed the nicotine could be treated as “tobacco” because it was found to be leaf-derived, it ruled the levy—stacked with other taxes and calculated on a blunt, volume-only basis—was so severe it effectively deprived businesses of the ability to operate, breaching constitutional proportionality and equality standards.
Jan.26 by 2FIRSTS.ai
22nd Century Positions VLN® Cigarettes for Growth as FDA Considers 0.7 mg/g Nicotine Cap
22nd Century Positions VLN® Cigarettes for Growth as FDA Considers 0.7 mg/g Nicotine Cap
22nd Century Group (Nasdaq: XXII) reported early commercial momentum for its FDA-authorized VLN® very low nicotine cigarettes, distributing approximately 8,800 cartons across 1,700 new U.S. retail outlets in the fourth quarter of 2025, while forecasting expansion to more than 5,000 retail points in 2026.
Business
Feb.24
South Korea’s appeal court again sides with KT&G, Philip Morris Korea and BAT Korea in $36.24 million case
South Korea’s appeal court again sides with KT&G, Philip Morris Korea and BAT Korea in $36.24 million case
South Korea’s National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) has again lost on appeal in its damages lawsuit against KT&G, Philip Morris Korea and BAT Korea, seeking ₩53.3 billion (about $36.244 million).
Jan.15 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Product | Claiming “U.S.-Made E-Liquid” and “80,000 Puffs,” VOOPOO Launches NAVI×Cyph 80K
Product | Claiming “U.S.-Made E-Liquid” and “80,000 Puffs,” VOOPOO Launches NAVI×Cyph 80K
VOOPOO’s website shows the company has introduced the NAVI×Cyph Kit 80K, an open-system, refillable vaping kit claimed to deliver up to 80,000 puffs. The device features a 1,500mAh battery with USB Type-C charging and comes in 12 flavors. A promotional image posted on VOOPOO’s official Instagram account includes the phrase “E-LIQUID BUILT IN THE USA.”
Feb.10 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis to hold public hearings on e-cigarette use in the 2026 spring session
Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis to hold public hearings on e-cigarette use in the 2026 spring session
Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis will hold public hearings regarding the use of e-cigarettes. The topic has been included in the 2026 spring session work plan of the Milli Majlis Committee on Agrarian Policy. During the spring session, the committee plans to convene a public hearing titled “Health is our goal: an end to e-cigarettes.”
Jan.23 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Coalition pushes back on Hochul’s proposed 75% wholesale tax on alternative nicotine products
Coalition pushes back on Hochul’s proposed 75% wholesale tax on alternative nicotine products
A coalition of business owners and former law enforcement officers protested Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed 75% wholesale tax on alternative nicotine products, saying it would fuel organized crime and burden low-income New Yorkers, while supporters said it would curb addiction and help fund hospitals.
Feb.28 by 2FIRSTS.ai