London, February 24, 2025 – Private retail sales data reviewed by Reuters indicates that sales of unauthorized, flavoured disposable vapes in the United States totaled around $2.4 billion in 2024.
The figures, representing about 35% of the e-cigarette sales from convenience stores and supermarkets, mark a significant portion of the overall vape market, according to market research firm Circana.
The data shows that while the unauthorised market shrank from $3.2 billion in 2023 to $2.4 billion in 2024 - and from $2.8 billion in 2022 - it still remains a major segment within a broader $6.8 billion market tracked by Circana. The firm’s analysis, which covered approximately 11,000 unauthorised flavoured disposable e-cigarette products across hundreds of brands, does not capture sales made online, in independent stores, or in specialty vape outlets.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized only 34 tobacco- or menthol-flavoured vape products for legal sale, all produced by major tobacco companies such as British American Tobacco and Altria. By contrast, the unauthorised market features a wide range of flavours - from "cookie and cloud" to "magic cotton candy"- underscoring the appeal of these products to consumers despite regulatory restrictions.
Industry sources have noted that the data on disposable vapes is preliminary and subject to revisions, with previous estimates for 2024 having been adjusted upward. Despite a reported 25% contraction in sales of flavoured disposable vapes compared to 2023, key industry players suggest that the overall U.S. vape market expanded by 30% this year, driven entirely by illicit products. Altria CEO Billy Gifford highlighted this trend during a conference on February 19.
The figures also reflect the impact of regulatory efforts, as top-selling labels such as Esco Bars and Elf Bars fell out of the top 10 most sold devices in 2024 after the FDA blocked their imports in 2023. Other brands have since risen to fill the void.
As authorities continue to crack down on unauthorised products, the data provides a rare glimpse into the scale of the illicit vape market in the U.S., highlighting both its significant economic footprint and the challenges facing regulators in curbing the sale of non-compliant products.
The U.S. Department of State has announced a new programme requiring citizens of Zambia and Malawi applying for tourist and business visas to post a b...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Russia must not “deceive” either Ukraine or the United States over a potential ceasefire, no...
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that his special envoy Steve Witkoff had achieved "great progress" during a three-hour meeting with Russian Pres...
U.S.-India trade relations plunged into crisis on Wednesday after President Donald Trump issued an executive order imposing an additional 25% tariff o...
Syria on Wednesday finalised 12 major investment agreements totalling $14 billion, part of an ongoing effort to repair its economy and infrastructure ...
From 1 June 2025, it will be illegal for businesses in the United Kingdom to sell or supply all single-use or "disposable" vapes. Only reusable vapes are allowed for sale.
As U.S. authorities intensify their crackdown on unauthorized e-cigarette products, several vape companies are altering their business models and corporate structures—efforts that are complicating regulatory enforcement.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
Australian researchers have created a groundbreaking “biological AI” platform that could revolutionise drug discovery by rapidly evolving molecules within mammalian cells.
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will send an upgraded ‘version 3.0’ free-trade agreement to their heads of government for approval in October, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday after regional talks in Kuala Lumpur.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
De-dollarisation, the move away from the U.S. dollar in global trade and finance, is no longer a fringe idea. As geopolitical tensions rise and new financial tools emerge, could this shift really transform the global economy?
Global financial markets are trading mixed today amid US President Donald Trump’s announcement of tariffs on drug and semiconductor imports, coupled with weak service sector data impacting investor risk appetite.
Tesla has granted Elon Musk a $29 billion share award as part of a new compensation plan to retain him as CEO while the company shifts focus from electric cars to robotaxis and AI. The move revives elements of a controversial 2018 package previously struck down by a Delaware court.
OPEC+ will increase oil production by 547,000 barrels per day in September after eight members of the organisation held a brief virtual meeting on Sunday. They said the company will continue to accelerate its output hikes to regain market share.
McDonald's plans to significantly expand its investments in artificial intelligence by 2027, with India expected to play a central role in data governance, engineering, and platform development, a senior executive said on Friday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment