2FIRSTS | 2Firsts Data | China’s Vape Exports Rise 3.1% in H1 2026 as 6-Methyl Nicotine-Related Products Surge 65.2%
China's vape exports rose 3.1% in H1 2026, driven by hardware growth and a 65.2% surge in 6-methyl nicotine products.Summary
China's core vape exports reached approximately $4.88 billion in the first half of 2026, representing a 3.1% year-over-year increase. Despite a temporary dip in April due to export rebate adjustments, the industry showed resilience. The growth structure is shifting: vaping devices and atomization hardware grew by 8.9%, while traditional nicotine-containing products remained nearly flat with 0.5% growth.
A significant emerging trend is the rapid expansion of nicotine substitute-related products, specifically those represented by 6-methyl nicotine, which surged by 65.2% YoY to $87.5 million. This category is gaining regulatory attention, particularly in the U.S. market.
In the U.S., the largest export market, the product mix is changing. While total exports are stabilizing, there is a notable shift toward hardware and nicotine substitutes, while nicotine-containing product exports declined by 5.5%. This indicates a transition from scale-based competition to structural competition driven by regulatory and market evolution.
(Source：2Firsts)
