Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1483036
8 tobaccoasia Issue 6, 2022 November / December From the Associate Editor © 2022 October Multimedia Co Ltd. TOBACCO ASIA (ISSN 2773-8701) is published bi-monthly by October Multimedia Co Ltd in January, March, May, July, September, and November. Printing and distribution of TOBACCO ASIA is overseen by October Inter Co. Ltd., Interchange 21 Bldg., Room 3225, 32nd Fl., 399 Sukhumvit Road, North Klong Toey, Wattana, Bangkok, 10110 THAILAND. Tel +66 2 660 3789. Fax +66 2 660 3881. E-mail: info@octobermultimedia.com, web: www.tobaccoasia.com. Representation for Tobacco Asia Asia/Middle East/Australasia Southern Europe/Eastern Europe China/Italy/Spain/France October Inter Co. Ltd. Interchange 21 Bldg., Room 3225, 399 Sukhumvit Road 32nd Fl. Bangkok, 10110, Thailand Tel +662 660 3789, Fax +662 660 3881 Contact: Glenn Anthony John Mobile +1 917 843 0000 or +66 818 299 409 gaj@octobermultimedia.com The Americas/Benelux/UK Germany/Scandinavia Switzerland/Austria Cardinal Media LLC 2 Glenfield, Barrington RI 02806 United States Contact: Emerson Leonard Tel +1 917 680 1050 edl@octobermultimedia.com Printing/Distribution overseen by: October Inter Co. Ltd. Interchange 21 Bldg., Room 3225, 399 Sukhumvit Road, 32nd Fl. Bangkok, 10110, Thailand Tel +662 660 3789 Fax +662 660 3881 Published by: October Multimedia Co., Ltd. Printed in Thailand © 2022 October Multimedia Co., Ltd. All rights reserved. Bylined or initialed articles represent the opinion of the author. All articles published in Tobacco Asia or www.tobaccoasia.com are copyrighted. No part of this publication may be reproduced or in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system without written permission. Nattira Medvedeva Associate Editor This time last year when we were anticipating what the com- ing new year would bring after almost three years of pandemic lockdowns, travel restrictions, and whatnot, we were optimis- tic, and in many ways 2022 did not disappoint. This past year was full of highs…and some lows. First to come to mind is the return of Intertabac/Intersupply; we returned to Dortmund once again in September. The shows had a remarkable turn out, both in terms of exhibitors and visitors, showing that the industry was keen to get back to business (see Thomas Schmid's coverage of the events on p. 70). In 2022, we also introduced the Tobacco Asia Podcast, in conjunction with Messe Dortmund's Business Insights digital platform, where host Thomas Schmid, Tobacco Asia's corresponding editor, talks to industry leaders to gain their per- spectives on the various issues facing the industry. (You can access Tobacco Asia Podcast episodes at https://business-insights.intertabac.de/en-gb/media-center.) Resilient as always, the industry used the pandemic "down time" productively, the results of which were introduced in 2022. Just look at some of the new product developments that were showcased at InterTabac and InterSupply this September as an example (see our story on p. 36). Over the past year we've also seen companies continue diversifying their businesses to include alternatives such as smokeless tobacco products and cannabis. For example, BAT recently invested in Germany cannabis company Sanity Group after investing in Organi- gram, a licensed cannabis producer, and Trait Biosciences, a provider of technology to make water-soluble CBD. However, it appears that even though there is growing consumer inter- est for reduced risk products, particularly in higher-income, Western countries, conventional tobacco products are still the main product for most of the world's tobacco companies. Some other big happenings this year were of special significance to vapes: the US FDA's PMTA authorizations finally started trickling out; a new FDA CTP director; China's new regu- lations that came into effect governing the manufacturing and distribution of vape products (more details on p.40); and JUUL's ongoing legal battle. Notably, FDA also gained authority of synthetic nicotine. How the agency will wield that authority is another matter. The current leaf "supply crisis" causing a global shortage is a cumulation of various factors from more severe floods and droughts to less stock available post-pandemic, fewer farmers cultivating tobacco and, of course, higher costs for fertilizers and energy. Key industry play- ers expect this crisis to last for 2-3 years (read more about this on p. 20). These are but a few examples of what took place this past year. The results are testament to the industry's resilience, strength, and ingenuity in the face of challenges and adversity, and the coming year will most certainly see even more examples of this.