The number of e-cigarette users in Malaysia is estimated to have reached 1.5 million

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

According to recent survey data from the MVCC (Malaysian Vaping Chamber of Commerce), Malaysia's domestic vaping industry is growing rapidly and becoming a valuable contributor to the country's economy.   Data for 2022 shows that e-cigarettes were worth RM2.27 billion (US$502 million) in Malaysia in 2019, and currently the retail value of the industry has grown 9.6% to RM2.49 billion (US$551 million). The government is proposing a $222 million tax on the e-cigarette industry.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of e-cigarette specialty stores has dropped from 3,000 to 2,250 compared to 2019.

According to MVCC's latest estimate, the number of domestic manufacturers in Malaysia is 200, while the number of importers has increased to 100. Separately, MVCC estimates that the e-cigarette industry now provides direct and indirect employment to 31,500 workers.

The e-cigarette industry is also poised to contribute a significant amount of revenue to the country, with economists saying the government could collect up to RM1 billion (US$221 million) in excise tax revenue from the industry once the regulations take effect, and send confidence to investors to pour more domestic and foreign investment into the e-cigarette industry.

E-cigarette users in Malaysia are mainly young people and those who want to quit smoking.   E-cigarette users mainly buy from online e-commerce and offline physical stores.

There are a large number of local physical stores in Malaysia that sell flavors of e-cigarette products and vaping oil.   Because users can experience the performance and taste of products in physical stores, products purchased in physical stores are very popular among users.

The Malaysian market is also undergoing a shift, with fewer users using larger vapes and smaller vapes becoming a mainstream product and continuing to grow.

E-cigarettes can be found everywhere in Malaysia, by market vendors selling vegetables, young people selling fruit on the roadside, GRAP drivers, couriers, hotel doormen, restaurant diners… You see a lot of people vaping at any scene.

According to MVCC's survey data, it is estimated that the number of consumers in Malaysia is already 1.4 million or 1.5 million, as the available data shows that the sales of products in the market have increased. "This further demonstrates the urgency of regulation to ensure that e-cigarette consumers in Malaysia have access to products that meet quality and safety standards. " MVCC Secretary General Ridhwan Rosli said in a statement that day.

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