North America - United States - E-cigarettes - Market.

Chinese vape exports to the U.S. jumped from about 2.2 million kg in June to 14.8 million kg in October 2025, despite tougher enforcement, the Washington Examiner reported. 2Firsts finds the surge reflects delayed bulk shipments, not demand recovery. With U.S. inventory exceeding 160 million devices and distributors paying ~10% upfront, cash-flow stress has shifted to Chinese manufacturers, and discounted stock is spilling into other markets.

The payoff is here: BAT’s Vuse has seized a rare regulatory vacuum to reverse its U.S. slide, capitalizing on a crackdown that seemingly compressed the illicit market to 54%. But the victory is fragile. A record $590 million export shock in October signals the gray market is striking back—pitting a fleeting compliance dividend against a massive inventory wall.

Charlie’s Holdings has activated its first US-based manufacturing and filling line, enabling the company’s Pachamama 25K vape series to meet Texas’ new domestic manufacturing requirements. As state-level rules tighten, the move signals a broader industry shift toward US-filled supply chains and marks an inflection point for brands historically reliant on China-based prefilled production.

Heno Bio, a leading global manufacturer of natural nicotine, announced that with the support of 2Firsts, it has successfully completed the submission and registration of TPMF documents under the supervision of the US FDA and obtained the TPMF STN (Submission Tracking Number). This means that Heno Bio's TPMF documents have passed the FDA's format and preliminary scientific review.

With Donald Trump poised to re-enter the White House, significant tariff increases on Chinese goods are now widely expected. As the world’s largest e-cigarette supplier and market respectively, China and the U.S. face potential trade disruption. Will increased tariffs, compliance hurdles, or industry migration pose the greatest risk? A 2Firsts in-depth analysis explores the implications.