TobaccoReporter logo

Tag: Japan Tobacco

  • JT Reports Record Year with Revenue Up 13%

    JT Reports Record Year with Revenue Up 13%

    Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) reported record fiscal 2025 results, with revenue rising 13.4% to JPY 3.47 trillion ($22.6 billion) and adjusted operating profit increasing 21.5% to JPY 902.2 billion ($5.9 billion), driven largely by tobacco business growth and the acquisition of Vector Group. Profit climbed 188.9% to JPY 499.1 billion ($3.2 billion), while free cash flow rose to JPY 272.7 billion ($1.8 billion), and the company plans to pay an annual dividend of JPY 234 ($1.52) per share.

    For fiscal 2026, JT forecasts continued growth, projecting revenue to increase 6.6% and adjusted operating profit to rise 7.9%, as it accelerates investment in heated tobacco products to complement its combustible cigarette portfolio and support long-term earnings expansion.

    “These achievements are the outcome of the strategic investments we have actively pursued over the years,” said JT Group president and CEO Takehiko Tsutsui. “In our Business Plan 2026, we intend to accelerate investments in heated products with the aim of establishing them as the second pillar of profit growth, alongside combustibles, in future years. Furthermore, we are targeting high single digit growth at a [compound annual growth rate] in consolidated adjusted operating profit at constant FX, driven by the tobacco business.”

  • JTI Announces Flores as GM of Global Travel Retail

    JTI Announces Flores as GM of Global Travel Retail

    Japan Tobacco International named Olesja Flores as general manager of Global Travel Retail, according to The Moodie Davitt Report. Flores, a JTI veteran with over 25 years of experience across Europe—including roles in Lucerne, Geneva, Copenhagen, and Vilnius—most recently served as general manager for JTI Switzerland for more than three and a half years. Based in Dubai, she will now lead JTI’s global travel retail operations, citing the city’s innovation and fast-paced environment as ideal for the dynamic travel retail channel.

  • JTI to Launch Four New EVO Flavors

    JTI to Launch Four New EVO Flavors

    Japan Tobacco (JT) is set to launch four new EVO variants for its Ploom heated tobacco line, covering mint, capsule (crushball), and regular (non-menthol) flavor segments, according to Neosmo. The variants—Green Mint, Cacao Mint Crystal, Tropical Lime Crystal, and Sakura Regular—will be sold in 20-stick packs at 550 yen ($3.50) each, keeping the range within the same price band. Two flavors go on sale January 22 and the remaining two on February 3, initially through CLUB JT online and Ploom retail stores. Consumers will vote to select one variant for nationwide distribution, including convenience stores, with results expected in early March.

  • JTI Promotes Yahaya to North Asia VP, Ellena Director of Malaysia

    JTI Promotes Yahaya to North Asia VP, Ellena Director of Malaysia

    Japan Tobacco International announced that Juliana Mohd Yahaya, who led JTI Malaysia since October 2023, has moved to the role of vice president, sales and marketing for JTI North Asia. Effective January 5, JTI Malaysia announced the appointment of Didier Ellena as managing director.

    Yahaya has been with JTI for more than 25 years, beginning in sales in 2000 before being promoted to positions including global brand manager, marketing director, and country manager, before taking the role of general manager in Malaysia.  

    Ellena brings more than 30 years of experience with JTI, having held senior leadership roles across multiple markets, including Hungary, Russia, France, and Italy, and will be responsible for overseeing the company’s overall business strategy and operations in Malaysia.

    JTI Malaysia said the appointment underscores its focus on sustainable growth, regulatory compliance, and responsible business practices, while reaffirming its commitment to operating within Malaysia’s regulatory framework and contributing to the country’s economic and social development.

  • JT Introduces ‘Purple Dusk’ for Ploom AURA

    JT Introduces ‘Purple Dusk’ for Ploom AURA

    JT released the fourth offering in its limited color series for the Ploom AURA today (January 13), introducing “Purple Dusk.” It joins “Amber Haze,” “Bronze Royal,” and “Aqua Green.”

    Regarding Purple Dusk, JT says, “the deep colors reminiscent of the night scene and the accented patterned front panel create a mysterious atmosphere and presence. It contains the desire to be close to the moment to enjoy the night in your own way and to encourage the time you spend with your sensibility.”

    A limited quantity is available in Japan for pre-sale at CLUB JT online shop and Ploom Shop for 2,980 yen ($18.77). It will be available at convenience stores and some tobacco stores beginning January 20.

  • JT Launches EVO Honey Lemon for Ploom

    JT Launches EVO Honey Lemon for Ploom

    Japan Tobacco (JT) introduced the EVO Honey Lemon Crystal, a new flavored smoke stick for its Ploom heated tobacco brand, that will be available in Japan beginning today (December 16) through the CLUB JT online shop and Ploom Shops, followed by a nationwide rollout in convenience stores and tobacco retailers on January 16, 2026.

    The EVO Honey Lemon Crystal “combines lemon-flavored capsules with honey sweetness to offer a balanced, dual-profile sensory experience.” It is compatible with all Ploom devices, sold in packs of 20 sticks at a retail price of JPY 550 ($3.70).

    The launch follows recent additions to the Ploom EVO lineup, including Evo Black Menthol and Evo Fresh Mint (released December 1) and a formula upgrade for Evo Cold Menthol in November, expanding the EVO mint range. JT’s Ploom smoke stick portfolio now totals 27 variants, catering to diverse flavor preferences in Japan’s heated tobacco market.

  • JT Expands Ploom Aura EVO Menthol Line

    JT Expands Ploom Aura EVO Menthol Line

    Japan Tobacco Inc. launched two new EVO menthol sticks—Evo Black Menthol and Evo Fresh Mint—for its Ploom Aura heated tobacco device, along with an upgraded Evo Cold Menthol variant, Japanese media outlet Kakakumag reported today (December 1). The additions bring the EVO menthol series to three distinct options, offering varying cooling intensities and flavor profiles.

    According to the company, Evo Black Menthol delivers the strongest cooling sensation in the EVO portfolio, while Evo Fresh Mint provides a milder mint aroma with a moderate cooling effect and a prominent tobacco flavor. The upgraded Evo Cold Menthol balances menthol freshness with tobacco body more effectively than before.

    JT has also released a limited-edition Aqua Green Ploom Aura device, complementing the expanded EVO menthol lineup and giving users new design and flavor options.

  • JTI to Open New Romanian Factory in 2027

    JTI to Open New Romanian Factory in 2027

    JTI Romania announced it will build a new state-of-the-art factory in Ștefăneștii de Jos, Ilfov County, replacing its space-constrained Bucharest plant. Groundwork is scheduled to begin in the coming weeks, with completion slated for 2027.

    The Bucharest facility currently exports 75% of its output to more than 70 countries, making it one of JTI’s key European production hubs. Senior VP Philip Livingston said the investment supports JTI’s drive to optimize its global manufacturing footprint, while factory lead Klaus-Walter Thul highlighted continual upgrades since operations began in 1994.

    JTI has invested heavily in Romania, including €25m in 2012 and a €60m program launched in 2021. The company employs 630 staff at the Bucharest factory and more than 1,500 nationwide.

  • JT Announces Board, Leadership Changes

    JT Announces Board, Leadership Changes

    Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) announced several resolutions from its Board of Directors concerning the company’s new and revised executive appointments, including changes among its Representative Directors. The most notable change is that Takehiko Tsutsui is being promoted from executive vice president of JT International to assume the office as president and Chief Executive Officer, replacing Masamichi Terabatake, who will become the deputy chairperson of the Board. The move will be effective January 1, 2026, subject to ratification at the company’s shareholders’ meeting and approval of the Board of Directors. Tsutsui joined JT in 1997 and has been a vice president since 2012.

    The company also announced that Shigeaki Okamoto will become the new chairperson of the Board, appointed Yukiko Uchida to the Board, and announced the resignations of Yukiko Nagashima and current chair Mutsuo Iwai. The Board changes will be effective at the conclusion of the shareholders’ meeting scheduled for March 25, 2026.

    In other moves, Adam Vilalta was named senior vice president of marketing of Tobacco Business in Japan with the resignation of Igor Dzaja, and Hisashi Shimobayashi was promoted to senior vice president, Chief Technology & Information Security Officer.

  • JT Reports Strong Q3 2025 Results, Raises Full-Year Forecasts

    JT Reports Strong Q3 2025 Results, Raises Full-Year Forecasts

    Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) reported robust growth for the first nine months of 2025, with revenue up 13.2% to ¥2.63 trillion ($17.1 billion) and adjusted operating profit at constant FX up 27.2% to ¥849 billion ($5.5 billion), driven by solid pricing and higher tobacco volumes. The company also completed the transfer of its pharmaceutical business to Shionogi & Co., Ltd. and its subsidiary TORII PHARMACEUTICAL, marking a strategic shift to focus on its core tobacco operations.

    At the end of September 2025, total assets stood at ¥8.2 trillion ($53.2 billion), down ¥175.7 billion ($1.1 billion) year-to-date, mainly due to lower cash holdings, while equity increased to ¥4.17 trillion ($27.1 billion) on higher retained earnings. Operating cash flow remained strong at ¥287 billion ($1.9 billion), supported by steady contributions from the tobacco business, despite payments related to the Canadian litigation settlement.

    Reflecting strong performance, JT raised its full-year forecasts across all metrics, projecting a 13.1% rise in revenue and a 24.3% increase in adjusted operating profit at constant FX. CEO Masamichi Terabatake credited growth in the Ploom heated tobacco segment, with Ploom AURA and EVO premium sticks boosting Japan’s HTS market share to 15.5%. JT also announced a revised annual dividend of ¥234 ($1.52) per share, up ¥26 ($0.17), in line with record-high earnings and its shareholder return policy.