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Tag: IQOS

  • PMI Launches Airport-Exclusive IQOS

    PMI Launches Airport-Exclusive IQOS

    Philip Morris International launched a limited-edition IQOS ILUMA i Prime Skylens, its first device created exclusively for airport travel retail. Inspired by aviation and the “above the clouds” experience, the premium device features a metallic blue design and is being introduced through activations at selected duty-free locations.

    The launch debuted at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport with a pop-up featuring product discovery, augmented reality, and a lounge-style environment. PMI has since expanded Skylens to selected airports across Europe, including Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, Switzerland, and Serbia, as well as South Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, Lebanon, and Malaysia.

    Beste Ermaner, PMI’s vice president of global travel retail, said the initiative is designed to make smoke-free products more accessible to adult smokers in travel environments. PMI said IQOS is used by more than 35 million adults worldwide who would otherwise continue to smoke.

  • Reuters: Nicotine Pouches Emerge as Big Tobacco’s Key Growth Bet

    Reuters: Nicotine Pouches Emerge as Big Tobacco’s Key Growth Bet

    Reuters reports that nicotine pouches are attracting increasing investor attention as cigarette sales decline, with rapid volume growth, strong margins and relatively light regulation in many markets making brands such as PMI’s Zyn and BAT’s Velo a major focus for tobacco companies. BAT expects the global pouch market to grow from £4 billion in 2025 to £11 billion by 2030, while pouch volumes in its Asia, Middle East and Africa markets increased 27.5% to about 700 million in the first half of 2026.

    Reuters said the category also offers higher profitability than several competing alternatives. PMI reported that its U.S. oral nicotine business generated eight times the gross profit per 1,000 units of its international cigarette business in 2024, compared with 2.4 times for IQOS heated tobacco. Analysts said pouch performance is increasingly influencing tobacco-company valuations, while the products’ lack of smoke or vapor allows them to be used in locations where other nicotine products may be restricted.

    The story noted that wider adoption remains uncertain, particularly in markets without an established oral nicotine culture. Analysts cited consumer familiarity with inhaled products as a key barrier, while regulators are increasingly scrutinizing youth uptake, marketing and high nicotine strengths. France has banned pouches, while Finland, the EU and Britain are tightening rules. Despite expectations for continued growth, PMI and BAT say no single alternative will replace cigarettes, with diverse portfolios needed to accommodate different consumer preferences.

  • Smoke-Free Gains Push PMI Over $11B in Q2

    Smoke-Free Gains Push PMI Over $11B in Q2

    Philip Morris International reported strong second-quarter 2026 results, with net revenues exceeding $11 billion for the first time as smoke-free products drove growth. Reported diluted EPS fell 7.7% to $1.80 due to a $511 million non-cash impairment charge tied to PMI’s Rothmans, Benson & Hedges investment, while adjusted diluted EPS rose 15.2% to $2.20, or 13.6% excluding currency. Shipments increased 2.5%, led by a 7.5% rise in smoke-free products. Net revenues grew 10.4% to $11.2 billion, with smoke-free products representing about 42% of sales, while operating income increased 22% to $4.5 billion.

    The international smoke-free business remained PMI’s main growth driver, with revenue up 14.2% and volumes rising 8%. IQOS heat-not-burn shipments increased 7.6%, maintaining PMI’s leading position in the category, while growth continued across Europe and other key markets despite challenges from Japan’s excise increase and Poland’s flavor restrictions. PMI said it would increase investment in Zyn as the nicotine pouch volumes expanded globally, with the brand now available in 60 markets, while VEEV e-vapor shipments rose 55.1% as PMI continued expanding its smoke-free portfolio.

    International combustible sales also grew, supported by pricing and market gains, while the U.S. business remained under pressure. Combustible revenue increased 9.8%, with cigarette growth in Turkey, Indonesia, and Egypt, while Marlboro gained market share. U.S. revenue declined 0.7% due to weakness in cigars and wellness products, though Zyn shipments rose 1.8% to 2.9 billion pouches following portfolio expansions. PMI maintained its 2026 outlook, forecasting adjusted EPS growth of 9.5% to 11.5%, organic revenue growth of 5% to 7%, and continued investment in smoke-free products.

    According to Reuters, PMI’s shares rose ​about 5% in early trading even though the company also cut its annual profit ​forecast for the third time this year due to negative currency effects.

  • PMI Named Among ‘Best Companies for the Future’

    PMI Named Among ‘Best Companies for the Future’

    Philip Morris International Inc. was named to the inaugural WSJ Leadership Institute “Best Companies for the Future” ranking, placing No. 97 overall among S&P 500 companies and third in the Food, Beverage & Tobacco sector behind Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. Compiled by Bendable Labs, the ranking evaluates companies across six areas: AI readiness, innovation, talent readiness, financial fitness, resilience, and agility.

    PMI said the recognition reflects its transformation into a consumer goods company focused on smoke-free products, supported by investments in science, innovation, and organizational capabilities. Group CEO Jacek Olczak said the ranking highlights the company’s progress in adapting to changing consumer preferences and advancing its long-term smoke-free strategy. PMI also noted that its flagship heated tobacco brand, IQOS, was recently named to Kantar’s BrandZ 2026 Most Valuable Global Brands ranking.

  • IQOS Ranks No. 74 in Global Brands

    IQOS Ranks No. 74 in Global Brands

    Philip Morris International said its IQOS heated tobacco brand has entered Kantar’s BrandZ 2026 ranking of the world’s 100 most valuable global brands for the first time, debuting at No. 74. The recognition marks a milestone for IQOS as PMI continues expanding its smoke-free portfolio and positioning the brand beyond traditional tobacco categories through technology, design, and reduced-risk product innovation.

    PMI said IQOS now has more than 35 million users globally, with the majority having fully transitioned away from cigarettes. The company also noted that IQOS surpassed $10 billion in annual net revenues within a decade of launch, contributing significantly to PMI’s broader smoke-free business, which generated nearly $17 billion in net revenues in 2025. The company has increasingly centered its long-term growth strategy around smoke-free products, including heated tobacco and nicotine alternatives.

    The Kantar BrandZ rankings evaluate global brands using a combination of financial performance and consumer brand equity research across more than 22,000 brands in 54 markets. IQOS joined a list that includes major global technology and consumer brands such as Google, Alibaba Group, and Xiaomi.

  • PMI Announces FDA Reauthorization of IQOS as MRTP

    PMI Announces FDA Reauthorization of IQOS as MRTP

    Today (April 29), Philip Morris announced that it has received renewed Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP) authorizations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its IQOS heated tobacco devices and associated HEETS consumables. The renewal covers two IQOS device versions and three HEETS variants, allowing the company to continue communicating reduced-exposure information to adult smokers in the U.S. The FDA said the decision is appropriate for the protection of public health, citing evidence that switching completely from cigarettes to IQOS significantly reduces exposure to harmful chemicals.

    The agency reaffirmed that available scientific evidence supports a measurable and substantial reduction in harm compared to combustible cigarettes, even without long-term epidemiological data. IQOS was first authorized through the FDA’s premarket pathway in 2019, with its initial MRTP designation granted in 2020 and expanded in subsequent years. The renewed orders maintain PMI’s position as the only company with MRTP authorizations for heated tobacco products in the U.S.

    The authorization applies to the IQOS 2.4 and IQOS 3 systems, along with HEETS Amber, Green Menthol and Blue Menthol variants. PMI said the decision supports its ongoing strategy to transition adult smokers away from cigarettes, as the company continues to invest in and expand its smoke-free product portfolio while awaiting further regulatory review of newer devices.

  • Tobacco-Free Kids Launches Campaign to End F1’s Tobacco Ties

    Tobacco-Free Kids Launches Campaign to End F1’s Tobacco Ties

    Today (March 28), the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids launched a new advertising initiative, “End the Formula,” ahead of the May 3 Miami Grand Prix, calling on Formula 1 to eliminate all tobacco-related sponsorships. The campaign targets partnerships between major F1 teams and companies, including Philip Morris International and British American Tobacco, which promote nicotine pouch and e-cigarette brands such as Zyn, Velo, and Vuse through branding on cars, driver apparel, and digital media. The campaign ties into similar efforts that began in March, which included ads, coordinated outreach with 162 organizations across 57 countries, and more than 25,000 petition messages urging F1 and affiliated partners to end these sponsorship arrangements.

  • Philippines Advocates Alleging Violations from Zyn, IQOS

    Philippines Advocates Alleging Violations from Zyn, IQOS

    Anti-smoking groups in the Philippines are calling on the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to act on complaints alleging violations of the Vape Regulation Act of 2022 by brands including Zyn and IQOS, according to the Sun Star. Advocacy organizations claim the products were promoted at public events such as the Sinulog Festival and through collaborations with artists, which they say are prohibited under the law that bans sponsorships and celebrity endorsements tied to nicotine products.

    Additional concerns were raised over product compliance, with some groups alleging that Zyn nicotine pouches are being sold without proper registration. The DTI, which has jurisdiction over vape-related regulation, is being urged to investigate and enforce existing rules, as advocates warn that continued non-compliance could increase youth exposure and undermine public health protections.

  • PM Plans Zyn Expansion in Tokyo

    PM Plans Zyn Expansion in Tokyo

    Philip Morris Japan announced it plans to expand sales of its oral nicotine pouch product “Zyn by IQOS” in Tokyo, with a broader rollout beginning May 11 across IQOS stores and convenience retailers. The product will be offered in Cool Mint, Spear Mint, Apple Mint, and Peach flavors, each with “low” and “medium” strength options. The company said the expansion reflects growing demand for discreet, smoke-free alternatives that can be used in a wider range of settings.

  • PMI Q1 Results Driven by Smoke-Free Growth

    PMI Q1 Results Driven by Smoke-Free Growth

    Philip Morris International reported first-quarter 2026 net revenues of $10.1 billion, up 9.1%, with adjusted diluted EPS rising 16% to $1.96 despite a decline in reported EPS due to a non-cash adjustment. Growth was driven primarily by the company’s smoke-free portfolio, which now accounts for 43% of total revenue and is available in more than 100 markets.

    The smoke-free segment delivered strong performance, with revenue increasing 24.7% and shipment volumes up 11.9%. IQOS remained the key growth driver, with double-digit gains and expanding market share, including becoming the top nicotine brand in markets where it is present. E-vapor products also showed rapid growth, while nicotine pouch volumes expanded in several markets despite declines in Nordic snus.

    Combustible cigarette volumes declined 5.1% in the quarter, although pricing supported modest revenue growth in the segment. Looking ahead, PMI expects continued momentum in smoke-free products, forecasting adjusted EPS growth of 10.9% to 12.9% for 2026 and organic revenue growth of 5% to 7%, supported by ongoing investment in its reduced-risk portfolio.