Prominent Events in E-cigarette Industry in 2023

Deputy Director Xu of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) met with Chen Jingyi, Chief Strategic Cooperation Officer of Philip Morris International (PMI) China, and their delegation in Beijing. The two parties engaged in a cordial discussion.

The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has announced the termination of membership for four major tobacco companies. John, the Secretary General of UKVIA, revealed the reasons behind this decision to 2FIRSTS. He stated that the association aims to ensure its independence within the e-cigarette industry, free from any interference, involvement, or funding from tobacco companies that own e-cigarette brands.

In June 2023, the import value of e-cigarettes in the United States amounted to $68.96 million, showing a month-on-month decrease of 21.4% compared to May 2023. However, it witnessed a year-on-year increase of 8.99% compared to June 2022. The total quantity of e-cigarettes imported was 46.607 million units, reflecting a significant growth of 108.81% in comparison to the same period last year, and an increase of 17.55% compared to the previous month.

Latest developments in the copyright infringement case between ELFBAR and American company VPR: VPR has requested the court to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that ELFBAR lacks any distinctive features that can be imitated.

According to a report by 2FIRSTS, they analyzed the financial reports for the first half of 2023 of 10 publicly traded companies that specialize in e-cigarettes or have businesses related to e-cigarettes. The findings revealed that only 40% of these companies experienced revenue growth, with the highest increase reaching as high as 1477.33%.

Globally-based investment holding company, Global Investment Holdings, headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, has successfully won a bidding process to acquire a 30% stake in Egypt's largest tobacco producer, Eastern Tobacco Company, for a sum of $625 million. This bidding process also saw the participation of Philip Morris International (PMI) and Japan Tobacco Inc.

Philip Morris International (PMI) has announced a new investment of $130 million in its Otopeni plant in Romania. This investment aims to boost the manufacturing capacity of the factory and transform it into a production line for smoke-free alternatives, shifting away from cigarette production.

According to data from the operator of Russia's Honest Labeling System (CRPT), the number of e-cigarette shops in Russia grew by 78% in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period last year.

Pastel Cartel, the manufacturer of Esco Bars, has filed a lawsuit in the federal court in the western district of Texas. The main allegation in the lawsuit is that the FDA has rejected their PMTA due to technical reasons, and it claims that the FDA's actions demonstrate negligence and carelessness.

Preview of Major Events

From September 14th to 16th, the e-cigarette exhibition will take place in Dortmund, Germany. As an official media partner, 2FIRSTS will closely follow this event and provide focused coverage. Stay tuned for updates.