Japan Tobacco International (JTI) endorsed the NTA’s Strategic Tobacco Production Information Campaign (STRATPIC), which aims to align tobacco production with global demand and discourage oversupply ahead of the 2026-2027 planting season. JTI said the initiative will support the industry’s long-term sustainability by helping farmers avoid market disruptions, while emphasizing that data-driven planning, stakeholder collaboration, and a stable policy environment are essential to protecting farmer livelihoods and encouraging continued investment in the Philippine tobacco sector.
Blog
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PMFTC Remains Top Buyer of Philippine Tobacco
Philippines’ National Tobacco Administration (NTA) recognized Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corporation as the largest buyer of Philippine-grown tobacco for the third consecutive year, highlighting the company’s continued support for the country’s tobacco farming sector. In 2025, PMFTC purchased 8.3 million kg of locally grown tobacco — 69% of the 12.1 million kilograms delivered to domestic manufacturers. NTA Administrator Belinda Sanchez said PMFTC’s sustained buying provides tobacco farmers with a stable and reliable market, particularly as the industry prepares for a challenging growing season.
PMFTC said it remains committed to investing in long-term partnerships with farmers, trading partners, and government agencies to strengthen the Philippine tobacco value chain and help keep locally grown tobacco competitive in domestic and international markets.
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Turning Point Hosting Q2 2026 Call Aug. 4
Turning Point Brands announced it will report its second-quarter 2026 financial results on Aug. 4, with management scheduled to host a conference call and webcast at 9 a.m. ET to discuss quarterly performance and answer questions from the investment community. A live webcast will be available through the company’s investor relations website, with a replay posted approximately two hours after the call.
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Annual Tobacco Trade Golf Day Set for Sept. 10
JTI and British American Tobacco will co-host the 2026 Tobacco Trade Golf Association (TTGA) Golf Day on Sept. 10 at The Berkshire Golf Club in Ascot, England, to raise funds for GroceryAid, the charity supporting workers across the UK grocery industry. Following a sold-out event in 2025, organizers are encouraging early registration for this year’s 18-hole tournament, which will include a charity raffle and sponsorship opportunities to maximize fundraising for GroceryAid’s emotional, practical and financial support services.
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Spain Looks to Include Most Nicotine Products as It Extends Smoking Ban
Spain’s government unveiled draft legislation that would ban smoking on outdoor bar and restaurant terraces while significantly expanding the country’s smoke-free areas and applying the same public-use restrictions to vaping products, heated tobacco products, nicotine pouches, hookahs, and herbal inhalation devices as conventional cigarettes. The proposal, which still requires parliamentary approval, would also prohibit smoking within 15 meters of entrances to public buildings, schools, healthcare facilities, and playgrounds, as well as at sports venues, universities, public swimming pools, work vehicles, and public events.
The hospitality sector has opposed the terrace smoking ban, warning it could shift smoking into private homes and negatively affect businesses.
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Zimbabwe Tobacco Farmers Deliver More, But See 24% Revenue Drop
Zimbabwe’s 2026 tobacco marketing season closed with farmers delivering 353.8 million kg of tobacco, a 2% increase from the previous season, driven primarily by contract sales, according to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB). Despite higher production, industry revenues fell 24% year over year to $882.5 million as the average selling price declined from $3.33/kg to $2.49/kg.
The season also saw a 46% increase in rejected bales, highlighting quality challenges that TIMB said will be a key focus ahead of the next production cycle as the industry works to improve farmer returns and support Zimbabwe’s long-term goal of expanding the tobacco sector into a $7 billion industry.
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Vape Group Says UK Retailers Face £330M in Losses from New Packaging Rules
Vaping advocacy group We Vape warned that proposed UK restrictions on the packaging, appearance, and display of vaping products could cost retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers more than £330 million while providing no proven social benefit, according to Asian Trader. Citing the government’s impact assessment, the group said the measures — including plain packaging, restrictions on device colors and flavor names, and requirements to keep vaping products out of sight in stores — would result in an estimated £328 million in lost profits and £2.8 million in compliance costs for approximately 76,000 retailers. We Vape also criticized the government’s planned £100,000 enforcement budget as inadequate and argued that stronger enforcement of existing underage sales laws would be more effective than imposing additional regulatory burdens on legitimate businesses.
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Pakistan Pressed to Investigate Cigarette Smuggling Ring
ACT Alliance Pakistan called for a nationwide investigation into what it describes as a highly organized network smuggling Afghan-linked cigarette brands, including Milano and Mond, into Pakistan. The group alleges the illicit trade is costing the government billions of rupees in lost tax revenue annually while funding cross-border money laundering and organized criminal activity. According to ACT Alliance, the cigarettes are smuggled through Balochistan and distributed across Pakistan using sophisticated logistics networks, sometimes concealed within shipments of legitimate goods.
The organization urged Pakistan Customs, the Federal Board of Revenue, and law enforcement agencies to dismantle the alleged smuggling and financial networks, arguing the issue has evolved beyond tax evasion into a broader national security concern.
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Philippine Tax Hikes Reduced Revenue, Fueled Illicits: Economist
American economist Arthur Laffer said the Philippines may have reached the point where continued increases in tobacco excise taxes are reducing government revenue while accelerating illicit cigarette trade. Citing government data, Laffer said tobacco excise collections peaked at PHP176 billion ($2.8 billion) in 2021 before declining to PHP134 billion ($2.1 billion) in 2024 despite ongoing annual tax increases, arguing the trend reflects the “Laffer Curve” effect.
He also referenced a University of Asia and the Pacific study estimating illicit cigarette trade cost the government PHP22 billion ($352 million) in lost tax revenue and contributed to broader economic losses. Laffer urged policymakers to adopt a data-driven approach that balances public health and fiscal objectives, including lower tax rates for smoke-free nicotine products to encourage adult smokers to switch while helping curb the illicit market.
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Velo and McLaren Offer F1 Dream Competition for Fans
British American Tobacco’s Velo nicotine pouch brand and the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team launched a global “Live Your Fandom” competition for the second half of the 2026 Formula 1 season, inviting adult fans to submit creative ideas for exclusive McLaren-themed experiences. The campaign, which builds on last year’s partnership, will reward selected entrants with fan-inspired experiences ranging from behind-the-scenes access to custom merchandise and meetings with McLaren executives.
BAT said the promotion is designed to strengthen engagement with adult nicotine consumers while reinforcing Velo’s branding through its ongoing Formula 1 sponsorship with McLaren.