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  • USTC Appoints Garofolo as CFO

    USTC Appoints Garofolo as CFO

    U.S. Tobacco Cooperative Inc. (USTC) announced the appointment of Phil Garofolo as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective today (June 30). Garofolo has more than 18 years of experience in financial leadership across the global agricultural and manufacturing sectors. He most recently served as senior vice president of finance and Chief Accounting Officer at Pyxus International, where he led major transformations across finance, internal audit, tax, risk, and insurance, securing $2.6 billion in funding across business cycles.

    Garofolo’s prior roles include senior financial leadership positions at PowerTeam Services (now Artera) and EY, advising on IPOs, M&A, restructurings, and international compliance in agriculture, life sciences, and infrastructure.

    “Phil brings the rare combination of financial rigor, operational insight, and strategic vision,” said Ron Radloff, president and CEO of USTC. “His leadership will help drive efficiency and transparency across our operations while reinforcing our cooperative’s commitment to delivering value to our members and customers globally.”

  • Former Davidoff Exec Joins Maya Selva

    Former Davidoff Exec Joins Maya Selva

    Luc Hyvernat, who recently served as Oettinger Davidoff AG’s senior vice president and Chief Commercial Officer, has joined Maya Selva Cigars as the company’s new executive vice president, according to Halfwheel.

    “Described as ‘an epicurean at heart and a strategist in action,’ Hyvernat will help the Franco-Honduran cigar manufacturer write a new chapter in its story, fueled by a passion for handmade cigars, respect for tradition and audacity in innovation,” Patrick Lagreid wrote.

    Prior to joining Oettinger Davidoff AG in March 2021, Hyvernat was the international director for Centre Vinicole Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte. He has also spent more than two decades in the tobacco industry through various roles at Altadis, Imperial Brands, and SEITA.

  • BAT COO Says Korea Key to Smokeless Expansion

    BAT COO Says Korea Key to Smokeless Expansion

    British American Tobacco (BAT) said it is focusing on South Korea as a strategic hub for its global smokeless transformation, citing the country’s tech-savvy consumers, dynamic regulatory landscape, and innovation-driven ecosystem. BAT Group Chief Operating Officer Johan Vandermeulen said Korea plays a vital role beyond sales, acting as a testing ground for the company’s next-generation products, during an interview with The Korea Herald.

    “Korea offers a unique blend of sophisticated consumers, cutting-edge technology, and a dynamic regulatory environment that makes it an ideal testing ground for our next-generation products,” said Vandermeulen.

    Vandermeulen called the company’s Sacheon facility “one of the best” in the global BAT network, and said with Korea now the second-largest heated tobacco market in the world (behind Japan), BAT is accelerating investments in product innovation, localization, and advanced manufacturing. BAT is also expanding its vapor brand VUSE in Korea with strict ingredient and marketing standards, while eyeing future opportunities for nicotine pouches, its fastest-growing category globally.

    Vandermeulen emphasized that tobacco harm reduction, responsible marketing, and clear, fair regulation are central to the company’s vision, but warned about the dangers of illicit vaping products, which he said undermine public trust and legitimate efforts.

    “We believe vaping has a vital role in encouraging adult smokers, who would otherwise continue smoking, to switch completely to smokeless alternatives,” Vandermeulen said. “But the category can only thrive if market order is preserved.”

  • Cuban Tobacco Hit Hard by Power Outages

    Cuban Tobacco Hit Hard by Power Outages

    Chronic power outages have severely impacted “all tobacco varieties” in Cuba’s prized sector, particularly in Consolación del Sur, Pinar del Río—one of the country’s leading growing regions, according to local newspaper Guerrillero. According to local officials, 385 hectares of tobacco crops were lost this season due to electricity shortages, mainly affecting irrigation.

    The area planted was already reduced to 1,500 hectares, and total production is now expected to hit just 1,301 tons, far below the 1,778-ton target. Director of the local Integrated Tobacco Company, Mario Luis Zamora, estimates the harvest will yield only 79% of the planned cured bundles.

    While efforts are underway to recover, with over 1,000 curing barns built for next season, the fragility of Cuba’s electrical grid casts doubt over a strong rebound.

  • Pakistan’s Largest Tobacco Growing Region Suffers Huge Storm Damage

    Pakistan’s Largest Tobacco Growing Region Suffers Huge Storm Damage

    Nearly 60% of the Virginia tobacco crop in Pakistan’s Swabi district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has reportedly been badly damaged by a thunderstorm, according to local farmers. The damage occurred at a critical harvesting stage, rendering the affected leaves unsuitable for curing, which has deeply impacted growers’ livelihoods.

    “Once the tobacco plant falls to the ground, its leaves are no longer useful for curing, causing growers huge losses,” said Safdar Khan, a farmer from the Maneri Bala village, adding that the government didn’t come to their aid after being struck by a natural calamity.

    Swabi produces about 53% of KP’s tobacco output, with an estimated 15,500 hectares planted, last year producing about 42 million kg.

    “Due to the damage to our crop, we are stuck in an economic quagmire, and there is no one to help us,” said local grower Baswar Khan.

  • Australian State Mandating Tobacco Licenses

    Australian State Mandating Tobacco Licenses

    New South Wales, Australia, is implementing a new mandatory tobacco licensing scheme starting July 1, requiring all retailers and wholesalers selling tobacco and non-tobacco smoking products to hold a valid annual license. The annual license will cost A$1,100 ($726), with applications opening July 1. Businesses must apply by October 1 to continue trading while their applications are assessed.

    After October 2, only approved license holders can legally sell smoking products. Penalties for non-compliance include fines of up to A$11,000 ($7,260) for individuals and A$220,000 ($145,200) for corporations.

    Click here for information about the application.

  • With Record Already Set, Zimbabwe Eyes 400M Kg Milestone

    With Record Already Set, Zimbabwe Eyes 400M Kg Milestone

    Two weeks after topping 300 million kilograms of tobacco output for the first time, officials in Zimbabwe say this year’s crop should top 330 million kg, and that achieving 400 million kg in the future is within reach. According to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board, on June 27, the harvest reached 319.2 million kg.

    Driving the surge is a sharp increase in “smallholder” participation, government-led reforms, and research-driven innovations. More than 127,000 farmers, 85% of them smallholders, are registered this season, which ensures access to inputs, training, and markets.

    Dr. Frank Magama, CEO of Kutsaga, Zimbabwe’s leading tobacco research institute, credited the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan introduced in 2021 for boosting productivity through better farming practices, climate-smart seed varieties, and sustainability initiatives.

    “Over 80% of our crop was produced under contract, ensuring inputs, technical support, and guaranteed markets,” Magama said. “While expansion has occurred, what is more exciting is the productivity increase per unit area. With improved post-harvest handling, energy-efficient barns, and better training, the numbers are speaking for themselves.”

    He also warned, however, of the risks from global oversupply and stressed the importance of environmental compliance to maintain competitiveness.

  • Haypp Survey Tracks UK Nicotine Pouch Explosion

    Haypp Survey Tracks UK Nicotine Pouch Explosion

    According to research by Haypp, the UK nicotine pouch market grew 95% between 2023 and 2024, spurred by the recent ban on disposable vapes. The perceived social acceptability of pouches compared to other products also appears to be a factor driving the market growth, as 78% of nicotine pouch users surveyed believed that nicotine pouches were socially acceptable, compared to 30% who felt vapes were socially acceptable, and 13% who believed cigarettes were socially acceptable. 

    According to survey respondents, the main advantages of pouches compared to other nicotine products are that they are discreet (68%), they feel healthier (64%), and they do not affect others (54%). 

    Based on survey responses, the typical first-time user of nicotine pouches is 33 years old. Only 3% of those surveyed report having started using nicotine pouches before the age of 18. The research also found 57% of UK nicotine pouch users say they began using pouches as a way to quit smoking and 27% to transition from other nicotine products, primarily vapes.

    “These results suggest that while the nicotine pouch market is growing rapidly, users are typically a more mature demographic that value the more discreet nature of the product,” Markus Lindblad, director of Haypp, said. “It is also notable that many people have started using pouches to transition away from vaping. This could become an important trend in the UK’s drive to go smoke-free while introducing ever stricter regulations on vaping.”

  • Egypt Increases Cigarette Price Thresholds

    Egypt Increases Cigarette Price Thresholds

    The Egyptian House of Representatives approved a government-backed amendment to the Value Added Tax Law, aimed at bolstering state revenues and advancing tax and social equity. A key provision of the amendment involves a structured increase of 12% annually to the minimum and maximum retail price thresholds for cigarettes, beginning November 5, 2025, and running through 2028.

    New cigarette price thresholds for 2025 for local cigarettes priced below EGP 38.88 ($0.78) will increase to EGP 48 ($0.96); cigarettes priced between EGP 38.88 and EGP 56.44 ($1.13) will increase to EGP 48 to EGP 69 ($1.38); and imported brands priced up to EGP 56.44 will increase to EGP 69.

  • France Announces Public Smoking Ban

    France Announces Public Smoking Ban

    Over the weekend, France officially banned smoking in public parks, beaches, bus shelters, and within 10 meters of schools, libraries, and swimming pools, as part of a push “to protect children from secondhand smoke and move toward a tobacco-free generation by 2032.”

    Effective June 29, the new law introduced fines of up to €700 for violations. Smoking is still allowed on bar and restaurant terraces, and electronic cigarettes remain exempt.

    Health Minister Catherine Vautrin said the ban is meant to ensure public spaces remain places to “play, learn, and breathe — not for smoking.” While many welcomed the move, some smokers and café associations criticized the exemption for terraces and the lack of clarity on vaping.