Heat-Not-Burn Cigarette Sales Are Skyrocketing In Japan

In Japan, conventional cigarette sales are dropping, but there is a silver lining for some big tobacco companies, specifically those that have introduced smoke-free tobacco products into the country’s marketplace.

While traditional cigarette sales continue to drop, sales of smoke-free alternatives like the heat-not-burn (HNB) products are rising rapidly and tobacco companies like Japan Tobacco International (JTI), Philip Morris International (PMI), and British American Tobacco are cashing in with products like BAT’s Glo, an HNB that was among the first introduced to the island nation’s market.

What Are Heat-Not-Burn Tobacco Products?

HNBs are designed to heat tobacco at temperatures lower than those at which conventional cigarettes are burned. Instead of producing smoke containing nicotine and other chemicals, they produce a vapor or aerosol that may be less harmful to their users than the cigarettes many of them are looking to ditch.

Heat-Not-Burn VS Vaping

For some vape users, vaporizers such as electronic cigarettes just don’t have that desired “throat hit,” which is the sensation of the inhalant hitting the back of the throat. For some former smokers, this sensation is a critical factor in their ability to transition from conventional cigarettes to a smoke-free alternative.

While e-cigs are fine for some, others prefer something with a little more bite to it. This is where, for some users, HNB products into play as in some cases, they’re capable of delivering more of the throat-hit that their users are looking for – this in comparison to their electronic cigarette competitors.

HNB Dominates E-Cigs In Japan

In the East Asian country of Japan, HNB products are flourishing while e-cigarettes are essentially nonexistent. This is the result of regulations in the country that have effectively banned nicotine containing electronic cigarettes.

Which do you prefer, electronic cigarettes or heat-not-burn devices? You can share your thoughts in the comments section below.