

PMI Posts Strong Fourth Quarter Behind ZYN Demand
Philip Morris International posted better-than-expected fourth-quarter results with net sales rising 7.3% to $9.71 billion, topping the $9.44 billion estimated.

Universal Corporation Announces Quarterly Dividend
Universal Corporation announced a quarterly dividend of $0.81 per share on the common shares.

Lithuanian Customs: Huge Increase in Counterfeit Cigarettes from Latvia
Lithuanian customs officials say there has been a huge increase in the production of counterfeit cigarettes in Latvia, which are ending up on the Western European market.

Nepal Goes All-In on Health Packaging
Nepal announced that all cigarette packs will be required to have 100% pictorial health warnings on both the front and back of the packaging beginning in August.

PM Korea Says Science Demands E-Cigarette Recognition
The head of Philip Morris Korea cited scientific evidence in defense of the global tobacco company’s ongoing efforts to shift from traditional cigarettes to electronic vaping products for healthier living.

Massachusetts: Council Pushes Back on Cigar Hikes
Several city councilors in New Bedford, Massachusetts, are criticizing the mandated increase in cigar prices that are meant to dissuade young smokers, as they are also hurting small businesses.

PTB Dissolution Hurts Farmers, Opens Illicit Market
The decision to dissolve the Pakistan Tobacco Board and hand over the regulatory authority to provincial governments will likely have severe economic, social, and regulatory consequences.

JT Not Adjusting Russian Business
Japan Tobacco announced it was not pulling out of the Russian market despite Ukraine’s efforts to get the lucrative company away from its combative neighbor.

Small Business Owners Fighting Denver’s Flavor Ban
Small business owners in Denver are fighting to send the city’s upcoming ban on flavored tobacco products to a vote in November’s election.

Foreign Company Investing $8.2 Million for Tobacco Processing Machinery in Bangladesh
Lee’s Tobacco Machinery Co. signed an agreement to invest $8.32 million in Bepza to manufacture tobacco processing machinery.

Philippines: Tobacco Orgs Backing Tax Moratorium
Seeking a “sweet spot,” the Philippines’ government is considering a moratorium on tobacco excise tax hikes in order to curb illicit trade and protect its revenue.

Thailand: Despite Ban, Vaping Surges with Teens
Thailand’s government is being urged not to legalize e-cigarettes. Despite being banned in 2014, e-cigarettes are abundantly available in the country

Habanos Introduces Final Limited Edition of 2024
Habanos introduced its Ramon Allones Absolutos last night, the third and final of its Edición Limitada of 2024

Ohio Pushed to Up Cigarette Tax by $1.50
Ohio lawmakers are being pushed to raise the state’s cigarette tax by $1.50 per pack.

Kretek Splash Draws Interest at TPE
One of the products that gained significant interest at TPE 2025 last week was the Splash menthol-filtered smokes that were launched at the end of 2024 by Kretek.

Osaka Tightens Smoking Regs Around World Expo 2025
The city of Osaka imposed a smoking ban on public streets in an attempt to be more “visitor friendly” ahead of this year’s World Expo 2025,

U.K. Stores Debate Definition of “Tobacco Product”
Two of England’s largest supermarkets are being accused of displaying ads for “tobacco products” in their stores, a violation of a law passed in 2002.

Denmark Goes All-In on Action Plan
Denmark has enacted the entirety of a 30-point action plan aimed at protecting youth from using nicotine products.

Illinois: Smokers Get Health Coverage Settlement
UGN Inc. settled a lawsuit saying it wrongly charged tobacco-using workers a penalty for health coverage without providing a valid way to avoid the fee.

Pakistan: Growers Stuck Between Federal and Local Government Row
The row between the Pakistani federal government and the provincial governments over $ 14.4 million of assets from the Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB) has growers stuck in the middle.

Study: Airborne Ultrasound Damages Tobacco
Short exposures to ultrasound can damage tobacco plants, meaning growers should evaluate sound pollution effects on the plant’s living status.

Philippines Approves Tobacco Tracking Bill
The Philippines approved a measure to introduce a track-and-trace system for tobacco products to deter illicit products.

Japan Tobacco Investing Heavy on RRPs
Japan Tobacco Group announced that it will be investing $3 billion into reduced-risk products by the end of 2026.

Massachusetts Judge Issues Record-Setting Judgement
A Massachusetts judge turned a $10.6 million verdict into a $105 million award.

Busy Day for BAT Stocks
BAT executed a share buyback, then finished the day on a 52-week high.