Russian Vape Sales Surge 20% Despite Mass Store Closures

Russia State Duma vape ban

Retail sales of nicotine-containing products in Russia have surged, with the turnover for alternative products like vapes and e-cigarettes jumping by nearly 20% over the past year. Despite this growing demand, driven largely by youth popularity, the number of physical vape shops is rapidly declining due to regulatory uncertainty and the looming threat of a complete sales ban.

According to data from the “MoySklad” service, the average turnover for a vape shop in June 2025 reached 162,000 rubles. However, data from 2GIS shows that the number of tobacco shops in major cities fell by 9%, while vape shops decreased by 6%. The situation is more severe in Moscow, where 27% of stores selling e-cigarettes have reportedly closed since last summer.

Experts explain this contradictory dynamic simply: while demand from young consumers is rising, business owners are hesitant to expand and are even closing down due to the significant risk posed by potential government prohibitions on all vape products.

Matthew Ma
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