According to The Business Research Company, the global tobacco products market continues to post steady gains, rising from $281.04 billion in 2025 to a projected $290.96 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 3.5%, with further growth expected to reach $344.75 billion by 2030 at a 4.3% CAGR. Sustained cigarette consumption in emerging economies, strong brand loyalty, expanding retail networks, and duty-free sales, alongside a shift toward smokeless, heated and next-generation nicotine products are expected to be the driving market forces. According to the report, future expansion will be supported by tighter regulations on combustible products, innovation in nicotine delivery systems, digital age-verification tools and product traceability investments. Regionally, Asia-Pacific led the market in 2025, followed by North America, and is expected to maintain its dominance amid continued consumption growth across key emerging markets.
Category: News This Week
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Indian Police Seize 2,700 kg of Illicit Tobacco Products
Police in India seized more than 2,700kg of banned tobacco products in Thirumudivakkam today (Feb. 18) following a tip-off about a Karnataka-registered truck allegedly transporting the contraband for local distribution. Officers traced the vehicle to the Thirumudivakkam industrial estate, where they found it parked alongside a smaller truck; suspects fled the scene as police approached. A search of the vehicles uncovered the banned tobacco products bundled and ready for transport. A case has been registered, and efforts are under way to identify and apprehend those involved in the smuggling operation.
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Kyrgyzstan Considers Legalizing Hookah Bars
Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Economy and Commerce opened discussions on a draft law to overhaul regulations governing hookah bars, aiming to legalize and license the sector while reducing corruption and boosting state revenues. Developed at the request of the Prime Minister in November 2025, the proposal would allow hookah smoking in specialized licensed establishments, introduce mandatory licensing, enforce sanitary and fire safety standards, and create an official register of operators. Although current legislation bans smoking in public places, at least 33 specialized hookah bars are operating in Bishkek, with authorities collecting millions of soms in fines — penalties officials say are often treated by businesses as routine costs rather than deterrents. (1 som equals 0.011 USD)
Citing international examples such as Germany and United Arab Emirates, where licensing and strict compliance regimes are in place, the ministry argues that regulated legalization is more effective than outright bans, which in places like Kazakhstan have reportedly driven parts of the market underground. Business groups, including Horeca Club and Kyrgyz Obshchestvo, have expressed support for the licensing model, saying it would bring transparency, reduce corruption risks, and align the sector with public health and safety standards.
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Dutch Customs Seize 12.5M Illegal Cigarettes in Two Weeks
Dutch investigators from the Fiscale Inlichtingen- en Opsporingsdienst seized 12.5 million illegal cigarettes in three separate operations over the past two weeks, preventing an estimated €4.2 million in lost excise revenue, according to the Ministry of Finance. The first haul, more than 3.5 million cigarettes, was uncovered on Jan. 28 in Rotterdam hidden inside a container of plastic crates, while a second seizure of 6.5 million cigarettes followed a customs check at Rotterdam port, where cartons were concealed within wooden sauna crates. A further 2.5 million cigarettes were found in raids at premises in Vlijmen and a warehouse in Den Bosch, with authorities stating the tobacco was intended for illegal sale in the Netherlands. One suspect has been arrested, and further arrests have not been ruled out.
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Pouch Boom Disrupting Scandinavian Tradition: Report
A report tracking more than 19 million online purchases between 2018 and 2025 suggests nicotine pouches are rapidly overtaking traditional snus in Sweden and Norway, signaling a cultural shift in Scandinavia’s long-standing oral nicotine market. The research found that tobacco-free nicotine pouches now account for the largest share of oral nicotine sales on leading regional e-commerce platforms, as consumers move away from tobacco-based snus. Globally, nicotine pouch sales have surged from roughly 292 million units in 2018 to more than 20 billion in 2023, with strong growth also reported in the UK and U.S. Study co-author Dr. Marina Murphy of Haypp Group said many users perceive pouches as a lower-risk alternative, underscoring the need for public health authorities to closely monitor the fast-evolving category and its broader implications.
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Bhutan Reviews Tobacco Act as Vaping Spikes
The National Council of Bhutan and the Bhutan Food and Drug Authority are reviewing the Tobacco Control Act of Bhutan to better regulate emerging products such as e-cigarettes and synthetic nicotine, following a sharp rise in imports and youth use. Trade data show e-cigarette imports surged from 994 units in 2022 to 448,086 units in 2025, valued at Nu 48.5 million ($533,000), while the National Health Survey 2023 reported overall tobacco use prevalence at 31.4%, with nearly one in five users also vaping. Officials say the amendments will clarify enforcement, strengthen inter-agency coordination, introduce product safety and nicotine limits, and enhance protections for minors, in line with Bhutan’s commitments under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The proposed changes would also consolidate penalties, define compliance obligations for importers and retailers, and empower local authorities, marking the fourth revision of the law since its adoption in 2010.
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Riot Labs Launches Strawberry Orange Crush
UK e-liquid manufacturer Riot Labs launched Strawberry Orange Crush, which it describes as the “best e-liquid flavor ever made.” The new blend is billed as a rich, candied strawberry and orange fusion with a fresh citrus snap and icy finish. Known for its bold flavors, Riot Labs says the release supports its broader mission to challenge the status quo in smoke cessation by offering adult smokers compelling alternatives.
Sales Director Matt Crann said the flavor is designed to be “loud and unapologetic,” adding that innovation and standout taste are central to the brand’s identity. Strawberry Orange Crush is available online and in vape stores nationwide in 5mg, 10mg, and 20mg nicotine strengths, with prices starting at £3.99.
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Zimbabwe Tobacco Farmers Want Forex Review as Season Approaches
As Zimbabwe prepares for the March 4 opening of the 2026 tobacco marketing season, growers are urging authorities to review the 70:30 foreign currency retention policy, arguing that receiving 30% of payments in local currency (ZiG) erodes profits as most production costs are pegged in U.S. dollars. Zimbabwe Tobacco Growers Association chairman George Seremwe said farmers are ready for the season but want the policy aligned with input costs, while Tobacco Farmers Union Trust president Edward Dune noted that fertilizers and other inputs are sold in foreign currency, reducing the real value of local currency payments. The marketing season, announced by the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB), will coincide with the launch of the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan 2, which targets 500 million kg annually by 2030, with more than 400 million kg expected this year.
TIMB said it has licensed 48 contractors and 46 Class A buyers for the 2025/26 season, with three auction floors — Tobacco Sales Floor, Premier Tobacco Auction Floors and Ethical Sales Floor — set to operate. Authorities are also cracking down on side marketing and informal buyers offering low prices, while farmer groups including the Zimbabwe National Farmers Union have urged growers to sell through formal channels to secure better returns. With 113,327 registered growers and a 15% increase in planted hectarage, officials say the 2026 crop outlook remains positive, reinforcing Zimbabwe’s position as Africa’s leading tobacco producer.
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Stoker’s Offers Two New Dips
Stoker’s launched Stoker’s Proud, a new sub-brand “aimed at meeting growing demand for high-quality, value-priced smokeless tobacco.” Made with 100% American-grown tobacco from Kentucky and Tennessee and manufactured in the United States, Stoker’s Proud features a more traditional long cut format and is positioned as a complementary offering to the flagship Stoker’s line, the company says. The new products are available in two styles — Damn Straight, Long Cut and American Wintergreen, Long Cut — packaged in a classic 1.2-ounce can with an embossed metal lid.
Thomas Helms III, senior brand director at Stoker’s, said the launch allows the company to serve consumers seeking more affordable options while maintaining its American-made heritage and product standards.
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W. Australia Focused on ‘Scourge’ Behind Illicit Tobacco
The Government of Western Australia announced sweeping reforms to the Tobacco Products Control Act 2006 aimed at crushing the illicit tobacco and vape trade, following the largest seizure of illegal products in state history. Under the proposed changes, individuals caught possessing large commercial quantities of illicit tobacco or vaping products could face fines of up to A$4.2 million ($3 million) and 15 years’ imprisonment, while companies could be fined up to A$21 million ($14.9 million) — the toughest penalties in Australia. The laws, to be introduced to Parliament on Feb. 17, would also allow store closures of up to 90 days during investigations. Premier Roger Cook described the illegal trade as a “scourge on our society,” blaming organized crime for fueling violence including firebombings and shootings targeting smoke shops across Perth.
Police Minister Reece Whitby said authorities have seized 1.26 million illicit cigarettes, 467 kg of tobacco, nearly 17,000 illegal vapes and A$770,000 ($547,000) in cash in the last year, with a further A$1.7 million ($1.2 million) in parcels intercepted across WA and Victoria. Health Minister Meredith Hammat said WA Health would work alongside police to swiftly shut down non-compliant retailers, with a second tranche of legislation later this year expected to address further measures, including potential eviction powers for landlords linked to illicit trade activity.