Asia Pacific

Heated tobacco products experienced another year of current value and volume growth in 2022. Smokers who were not ready to quit smoking, but were sensitive to the smell of cigarette smoke, chose heated tobacco products, looking for an option they…

On 30 April 2022, the sale of alternative smoking products came to an end in Hong Kong. The legislation prohibited the import, promotion, manufacturing, sale, or possession of any kind of alternative smoking product, including e-vapour products and…

E-vapour and heated tobacco products remains an underdeveloped category in Vietnam, however, this is expected to develop further over the forecast period. During 2022, the Vietnamese government and associated authorities, especially the Ministry of…

Cigars continued to register a strong performance in 2022, with double digit volume growth. However, cigars remain relatively niche and attributed to higher-income consumers such as businessmen and executives, due to their expensive prices. Moreso,…

In 2022, cigars and cigarillos in South Korea saw significant growth. Increased consumer interest in cigars since the pandemic was the main factor supporting growth. According to local keyword search statistics from Naver, consumer searches for…

In April 2022, all nightlife-related businesses in Singapore were permitted to fully reopen, including bars, pubs, discotheques, and nightclubs. During the Circuit Breaker period in April and May 2021, all on-trade establishments were forced to close…

Having experienced a drop in retail volume and current value sales in 2020, in the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, cigars and cigarillos saw a return to growth in 2021. The rebound in retail volume and current value growth continued in…

The market for cigars and cigarillos remains fairly small in Indonesia, with the potential consumer base remaining somewhat limited. This is especially true for imported cigars which are sold at high prices which are generally only affordable to…

In 2022, retail volume sales of cigars continued to fall due to supply and logistics issues, particularly for Cuban cigars. The shortages had a significant impact on the category as a whole, as the Hong Kong market heavily depends on Cuban cigars.…

The cigars category is still at a nascent stage in China, given the relatively low penetration rate. However, in 2022 cigars witnessed robust growth in retail volume terms, in particular driven by domestically produced hand-rolled cigars, thanks to…

The end of the COVID-19 era and the removal of associated restrictions led to a boost in cigarettes sales in 2022. Vietnamese consumers have re-embraced their out-of-home lifestyles and social activities, which has ultimately led to higher incidences…

In 2022, cigarettes saw a slight retail volume decline in South Korea. However, the decline was much more moderate compared with pre-COVID 19 years. The domestic market absorbed a great share of duty-free cigarettes. While borders reopened in 2022,…

The extension of smoking prohibited areas was implemented on 1 July 2022 to incorporate new premises. Smoking at reservoirs, selected public parks, and gardens was last revised in June 2016 in an effort to protect non-smokers who visit these areas…

Overall, economy and premium cigarettes gained retail volume share at the expense of mid-priced brands in 2022. The main reason for this trend was derived from high inflation, which drove high living costs and informed expenditure on cigarettes. Many…

On 1 January 2022, the Indonesian government through the Finance Ministry announced an increase in the excise tax on cigarettes as part of efforts to curb consumption, especially among the country’s children and young consumers. The average increase…

In 2022, retail volume sales of cigarettes remained fairly stagnant, seeing only a minor increase, with sales limited by the fact that smoking prevalence in Hong Kong has decreased over the years thanks to a series of tobacco control initiatives. The…

Cigarettes are subject to strict regulations in China, and there is stable supply, setting it apart from other consumer goods. In 2022, cigarettes demonstrated stable retail current value growth in China, which was largely attributed to effective…

With the lifting of containment measures, China's cities are experiencing economic recovery. Shenzhen and Guangzhou remain the most economically dynamic cities, while Hefei shows the highest potential for future growth. However, challenges for the…

With China’s economy reopening, consumer spending and income growth are expected to accelerate. Over the period to 2027, the lower middle class (socioeconomic group D) is set to experience the fastest expansion, while the lowest income class…

China is projected to experience a moderate increase in the number of households between 2022 and 2027, with single-person households becoming the leading type. Household heads are expected primarily to be older males, aged 60+ years, with secondary…