The delivery of IQOS brand tobacco heaters to Russia faces possible disruption in the near term. This was reported to socialbites.ca by a representative of a Tabakeriya tobacco chain store.
“We’ve been warned. About a week ago, an IQOS sales rep visited and announced that shipments to Russia would end. Still, supply won’t vanish entirely there are Chinese and Korean tobacco heating systems available, along with bars,” said a shop employee.
Pavel Shapkin, head of the National Union for Consumer Rights Protection, informed socialbites.ca about a potential shortage of these devices on the Russian market.
“A possible IQOS shortage could occur, though it is not a matter of basic necessity, so the impact would be limited for Russians. IQOS will remain an alternative for smokers. Users may turn to analogues from China or other suppliers, including sticks, and traditional cigarettes will still be present,” Shapkin explained.
Prices expected to rise from April 1
Meanwhile, IQOS stated there are no plans to halt shipments of heating devices. “Currently, production runs normally, and there are no anticipated interruptions in the supply of rods and devices to stores,” an IQOS spokesperson told socialbites.ca.
Online retailers, including Ozone, reported to socialbites.ca that there have been no notices about IQOS resource termination, and no disruptions to their services were observed.
However, prices for devices are set to increase starting April 1. The price for sticks has already risen by 10 rubles. For buyers looking to maximize value, purchasing a heating system or rods now could be advantageous, according to a market observer.
“Let’s move on to the sweater sticks”
An employee of Tabakeriya indicated that the fate of IQOS sticks remains uncertain. Philip Morris Izhora is produced at the Philip Morris factory. The company reduced production and investment in Russia, and Philip Morris did not respond to inquiries from socialbites.ca.
Shapkin noted that consumers might switch to Kazakhstani bars imported into Russia without excise duties, should such options become available.
“A shift in policy could alter the definition of counterfeit goods. Lawmakers may revisit the stance on property rights, a move that could affect how fakes are viewed in the market,” Shapkin commented.
“The market won’t disappear, thanks to Chinese and Korean options,” the Tabakeriya employee added. They explained that sticks from various Asian manufacturers can be used in existing IQOS devices.
According to information compiled by StickSmoker, the discussions mainly involve sticks from Chinese and Korean brands such as Fiit, Healcier, Ccobato, Genmist. Regarding the heating devices themselves, there are Chinese and Korean three generations of equivalents available on the market, as analyzed by industry data.