China Tobacco International (HK) has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with China Tobacco Sichuan to expand distribution of its Great Wall cigars from duty-free markets in Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Macau to a global market, excluding mainland China.
Blog
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Tobacco Companies Using Online Gaming, Metaverse for Marketing
Tobacco companies are now using online gaming communities, virtual reality platforms, NFTs, and avatars to promote and market smoking and vaping to young people, according to a recent World Conference on Tobacco Control report, notes the Times of India.
Using these metaverse platforms bypasses traditional advertising restrictions and raising the possibility of increasing youth tobacco use, according to the research from the Canary Project.
The digital promotions often include things like branded virtual lounges, influencer avatars, and immersive events featuring tobacco products.
Experts are concerned that the tactic will normalize tobacco use among youth; over half of the metaverse’s active users are ages 13 and below. “The combination of immersive technology and addictive marketing is deeply concerning,” said Melina Magsumbol of Vital Strategies India, part of the global health organization that runs the Canary Project.
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Tobacco Use Linked to Higher Depression and Anxiety in Adolescents: Study
A recent study in PLOS Mental Health showed that adolescents who use e-cigarettes or traditional tobacco products have a higher likelihood of depression and anxiety than non-tobacco users.
The study looked at more than 60,000 U.S. middle school and high school students between 2021 and 2023.
According to the study, adolescents using tobacco reported more symptoms of depression and anxiety while adolescents using both e-cigarettes and conventional tobacco products showed higher risk of these mental health issues.
The authors of the study stated that “while causality cannot be determined, the results from this study showed that all forms of tobacco use were significantly associated with mental health issues. There is a need to continue promoting mental health support and implementing tailored interventions to combat all forms of tobacco use among adolescents.”
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Turning Points to Host Conference Call
Turning Points Brands will hold a conference call on Aug. 6, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time to review its second-quarter 2025 results.
Those interested can participate using call-in numbers (800) 715-9871 (U.S. toll-free) or (646) 307-1963 (international) and event ID 6640134.
Participants should dial in at least 10 minutes before the start of the call and follow the audio prompts after typing in the event ID. The call will also be broadcast live as a listen-only webcast from the investor relations section of the company’s website. The replay of the webcast will be available on the website two hours following the call.
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Pyxus to Hold Conference Call
Pyxus International will release its financial results for its first quarter of fiscal year 2026 on Aug. 6, 2025.
The earnings conference call and webcast will be held at 9 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. To participate in the call, investors and analysts can dial (929) 477-0448 or (888) 254-3590 and use conference ID 8412361. There will also be a live webcast.
Prior to the event, Pyxus will issue a press release disclosing the financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2025.
The archived recording of the webcast will be available on the company’s investor relations webpage shortly after the call.
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Italy Discovers One of Europe’s Largest Illegal Cigarette Factories
On July 22, 2025, Italian authorities supported by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) dismantled a clandestine cigarette manufacturing facility near Stornara in Apulia. The site had the capacity to produce up to 2 million cigarettes daily and was estimated to be worth over €1.3 million.
The operation included coordination across Apulia and Sicily, targeting a broader smuggling network. Logistics chains, packaging systems counterfeit samples, and ready-to-ship finished product were seized. The scale and structure indicate a well-developed organized supply network bypassing regulated markets.
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Retailers Facing Inflation, Illicit Market Pressures
Goldman Sachs’ “Nicotine Nuggets” survey of roughly 40,000 U.S. convenience-store outlets (Q3 2024 data) shows 41% of respondents reporting a negative outlook on tobacco and nicotine categories. Drivers include inflation-induced downtrading to discount cigarette brands and suppressed overall foot traffic.
Consumers are trading down to lower-tier cigarettes and seeking deals more aggressively, while many are switching to oral nicotine pouches or budget vape disposables. Simultaneously, the illicit market is expanding, particularly in flavored disposables and oral nicotine products, which cuts into retailers’ margins.
Retailers also report that vape volumes have slowed significantly, despite promotional gains in oral products. Disposable flavored e-cigarettes, often illicit, have proliferated, bypassing regulatory channels and complicating compliance for c-store operators.
Retailers expressed frustration at the slow pace of enforcement, particularly by the FDA, creating competitive imbalances with legally compliant businesses. The combined pressures of inflation, shifting consumer preferences, and illicit product availability are reshaping tobacco category dynamics in convenience retail.
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South Korea’s NHIS Submits Petition in Tobacco Damages Lawsuit
South Korea’s National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) formally submitted a petition bearing 1.5 million signatures to support its appeal currently before the Seoul High Court. The NHIS is seeking KRW 53.3 billion (≈ USD 38–40 million) in compensation from KT&G, Philip Morris Korea, and BAT Korea for smoking-related healthcare costs dating back to April 2014.
The petition was delivered on July 25, 2025, and accompanied by a statement from NHIS President Jung Ki-suck, a pulmonologist, highlighting the addictive nature of tobacco and accusing tobacco firms of downplaying smoking risks. Public statements in the petition allege the companies have never taken responsibility despite evidence linking tobacco use to cancer. The case is in appeals following a 2020 decision that deferred damages, citing the need to exclude other contributing risk factors.
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NC Tobacco Farmers Transition into Pork
North Carolina A&T Cooperative Extension’s “From Bright Leaf to Berkshires” initiative is helping former tobacco growers pivot to pork by training them in Berkshire pig production using hoop‑structure barns. Over two cohorts totaling 18 farmers have been trained in areas like nutrition, reproductive management, waste handling, biosecurity, and niche marketing strategies.
Funded by the state’s Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, the program has already generated notable returns—over half a million dollars in pork sales, creation of new jobs, and incremental state tax revenue. Stakeholders emphasize that modern pork production involves a steep learning curve and investments in new infrastructure far removed from tobacco farming.
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Redding, CA Increases Oversight on Vape, Smoke Shops
Redding is advancing a new licensing program to regulate about 119 tobacco retailers, including approximately 29 vape and smoke shops, with the aim of curbing youth access and controlling illicit product flows. The proposed $265 license fee would fund enforcement via police and code compliance officers.
Initial inspections at shops like Cloud 9 revealed violations including unlicensed operations and missing required signage. Enforcement has involved verbal warnings, product seizures, and compliance education. Officials cited major seizures of illegal flavored tobacco and vape items, often used to evade tax and targeting youth.
Mandated tobacco enforcement capacities are expanding: a dedicated tobacco inspector funded by grants through 2028 is under training. While undercover compliance tests in late 2024 showed full compliance, officials caution that continued vigilance is needed to counter evolving violations tied to flavors and cannabis-infused offerings.