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Tag: China

  • Europe Helping Offset China Losses in Zimbabwe’s Tobacco Exports 

    Europe Helping Offset China Losses in Zimbabwe’s Tobacco Exports 

    Zimbabwe’s tobacco exports dipped 0.7% from the previous year to $1.36 billion (as of mid-December), thanks in part to exports to China dropping from $953.2 million to $819.3 million. Despite the 14% decline, the Far East still accounted for 60% of the nation’s total tobacco export value, all data according to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB).

    While traditional Asian markets cooled, a massive surge in European demand and steady growth within Africa helped offset the overall decline. The European Union emerged as the standout growth market this season, with export values skyrocketing by 64.5%, going from $103.1 million to $169.6 million. According to the TIMB, the surge reflects a growing preference for Zimbabwe’s high-quality, flue-cured Virginia leaf among continental manufacturers.

  • China Key to Zimbabwe’s Record Tobacco Output

    China Key to Zimbabwe’s Record Tobacco Output

    Zimbabwe’s tobacco sector has surpassed 350 million kg in 2025, thanks in large part to Chinese support, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said. Speaking in Harare after signing agreements on China-aid irrigation projects, Ncube highlighted China’s role in providing both credit facilities and market access through China Tobacco, helping small- and medium-scale farmers grow the sector beyond expectations.

    The assistance has helped Zimbabwe maintain its position as Africa’s top tobacco producer and a significant player globally. The tobacco industry remains a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s agriculture, supporting over 160,000 households, according to government data.

  • China Calls for Full-Crackdown on Illicit Tobacco Products

    China Calls for Full-Crackdown on Illicit Tobacco Products

    China’s State Council has issued new policy guidance aimed at cracking down on tobacco-related illegal activities across the entire supply chain, seeking to address persistent problems such as counterfeiting, smuggling, and intellectual property infringement. The document, titled Opinions on Combating Tobacco-related Illegal Activities in the Whole Chain, outlines targeted measures to clean up the tobacco market and protect national interests and consumer rights.

    The Opinions call for intensified action against overseas counterfeiting and the smuggling of tobacco into China, including stronger law enforcement cooperation with other countries, tighter sea and land border controls, and stricter oversight of ports, transit trade, and cross-border logistics. Authorities are also instructed to strengthen risk control over international transport and parcels, and to curb smuggling through cross-border e-commerce and transportation personnel.

    Domestically, the policy mandates a high-pressure crackdown on illegal production, storage, transport, and sale of tobacco products, including counterfeit cigarettes and unapproved nicotine products. It also tightens supervision of e-cigarettes and bans the unauthorized manufacture and sale of tobacco-like products and simple cigarette-making equipment. The State Council stressed the need for stronger inter-agency coordination, professionalized enforcement teams, and strict, standardized law enforcement, urging local governments and departments to fully assume responsibility for implementing the measures.

  • Two More Arrested in Hong Kong, Smuggling 60K Vapes

    Two More Arrested in Hong Kong, Smuggling 60K Vapes

    Hong Kong authorities sentenced two men to six months in prison after 60,000 alternative smoking products were found in their luggage upon arrival from Japan, the Department of Health (DH) said. The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) made the arrest after it was notified by Hong Kong Customs on December 15.

    Since amended tobacco control legislation took effect on September 19, granting arrest powers to TACO inspectors, 14 importation cases involving alternative smoking products have been prosecuted. Sixteen people have been convicted, receiving prison sentences of two to six months.

    Under Hong Kong law, importing alternative smoking products—including e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and herbal cigarettes—can result in fines of up to HK$2 million ($260,000) and imprisonment of up to seven years.

  • Macau to Test No-Smoking Zones

    Macau to Test No-Smoking Zones

    Two pavements (sidewalks) in Macau will become trial no-smoking zones next year, officials said, noting no penalties will apply during the test. The measure aims to assess public response as the government considers wider outdoor smoking restrictions. The Health Bureau said Macau’s narrow streets limit options for smoking booths, so authorities are planning designated outdoor smoking areas with clear markings and signage. The trial follows successful smoke-free zones recently set up near several schools.

    Smoking rates in Macau have dropped 31.4% since 2012, and the government has already banned the import, export, and sale of e-cigarettes. Officials now plan to make e-cigarette possession illegal as part of tightening tobacco-control measures.

  • Great Wall Cigar Explores Partnerships with Cuba, Morocco, Indonesia

    Great Wall Cigar Explores Partnerships with Cuba, Morocco, Indonesia

    A delegation from China Tobacco Sichuan’s Great Wall Cigar Factory recently visited the embassies of Cuba, Morocco, and Indonesia in Beijing to discuss industrial cooperation and trade expansion.

    At the Cuban embassy, talks with Minister Counsellor Igor Montero Brito focused on collaboration in tobacco breeding, processing technology, and cultural exchange. The Cuban official highlighted cigars as a national symbol comparable to China’s silk and porcelain.

    In Morocco, discussions centered on leveraging the country’s strategic location to create a regional hub for cigar processing and distribution. In Indonesia, the delegation received confirmation of a recent commercial order, reflecting growing bilateral trade. Great Wall Cigar holds about 50% of China’s handmade cigar market and nearly 70% of its high-end segment, exporting to 28 countries.

  • FDA to Allocate $200M Toward Combating Illicit Vapes

    FDA to Allocate $200M Toward Combating Illicit Vapes

    As part of the continuing resolution passed by Congress and signed yesterday (November 12) by US President Donald Trump to reopen the government, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be required to allocate at least $200 million of its $712 million in user fees toward enforcing regulations on electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). Of this amount, $2 million will support a multi-agency task force, including the Justice Department and Homeland Security, aimed at cracking down on illegal ENDS products imported from China and other countries.

    The FDA is also required to update its 2020 ENDS enforcement guidance within one year to include flavored disposable vapes and clarify the definition of disposable ENDS products. In addition, the law updates the Imports and Exports section of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to include tobacco products, strengthening the FDA’s authority to regulate their import alongside food, drugs, devices, and cosmetics.

    The agency must provide semi-annual reports to Congress on efforts to remove illegal ENDS products from the market, with the first report due within 180 days of enactment (November 12). The FDA is also expected to submit a report detailing its work to educate retailers on which products are legally allowed for sale.

  • Bill Introduced to Allow FDA to Destroy Illicit Chinese Tobacco Products

    Bill Introduced to Allow FDA to Destroy Illicit Chinese Tobacco Products

    Last week, Senator John Cornyn and Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne, joined by Senator Martin Heinrich and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, introduced the “Ensuring the Necessary Destruction of Illicit Chinese Tobacco Act,” also referred to as the “END Illicit Chinese Tobacco Act” (END). The legislation would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services the authority to seize and destroy adulterated, misbranded, or counterfeit tobacco products, including vapes and e-cigarettes, imported from China, specifically giving the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) authority to do so.

    “By giving the FDA destruction authority over these imports, this legislation would turn off the spigot of illicit e-cigarettes and vapes flowing from China and address the public health crisis sweeping across our nation,” Sen. Cornyn said.

    Lawmakers cited the public health risks posed by counterfeit products, which dominate illicit youth-used e-vapor brands. The END Act would extend the FDA’s existing destruction powers, currently applied to certain drugs and medical devices, to tobacco products.

    “We have seen too many illegal vapes slipping through the enforcement cracks, posing health and safety risks to Americans,” said Rep. Van Duyne. “The END Act will give federal agencies the tools that they need to destroy these counterfeit or misbranded goods before they reach our shelves.”

    The bill is supported by major health organizations—including the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Heart and Lung Associations—and industry groups like 7-Eleven and Altria.

    The bill has been introduced, but no date for markup or committee hearing has been publicly posted thus far.

  • Former CSTMA Deputy Chief Indicted

    Former CSTMA Deputy Chief Indicted

    Today (November 4), Zhang Tianfeng, the former deputy chief of China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, was indicted on charges of accepting bribes, according to the Supreme People’s Procuratorate. Zhang is accused of taking advantage of his various posts in the tobacco system to seek benefits for others, while illegally accepting significant amounts of money and gifts in return.

    The case has been filed by the People’s Procuratorate of Ganzhou City, East China’s Jiangxi province, to the city’s intermediate people’s court.

  • Chinese Tobacco Heading to Dominican to Boost Cigar Exports

    Chinese Tobacco Heading to Dominican to Boost Cigar Exports

    Dominican Tobacco International Ceiba general manager Bob López announced a “landmark collaboration” that will bring Chinese cigar tobacco to a new Dominican factory in Villa González in an effort to produce “cigars with unique flavors, greater consistency, and stronger market differentiation.”

    “By uniting Dominican craftsmanship with Chinese cigar tobacco, we are creating opportunities that not only increase the industry’s international competitiveness but also enrich the diversity of production styles and techniques in the Villa González region,” López said.

    The Chinese tobacco will be sourced from Sichuan, Hainan’s Danzhou Cigar Base, and Tianhe Company, and will be blended with Dominican craftsmanship. Positioned within a free trade zone, the factory is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure and large-scale capacity, ensuring compliance with international standards and efficient worldwide distribution.

    According to López, the venture will not only reinforce the Dominican Republic’s position as a leader in premium cigar manufacturing but also expand export opportunities to North America, Europe, and Asia. By fusing tradition with innovation, the project seeks to accelerate the internationalization of new brands, drive economic growth in Villa González, and diversify global cigar offerings. The first production phase is scheduled for early 2026, supported by ongoing recruitment of local talent.