Philip Morris International Romania Focuses on Sustainability and Innovation in 2025
Philip Morris International (PMI) Romania, a major producer of heated tobacco products for Japan, plans to prioritize sustainability and product innovation in 2025 as part of its goal to achieve carbon neutrality.
Production Hub for Japan’s Heated Tobacco Market
In an interview with Digi24 on December 23, Mircea Scununazu, General Manager of Philip Morris International Romania, stated that “the new tobacco products used in Japan are produced at the Philip Morris International Romania plant in Otopeni.”
Strong Market Leadership and Continued Investment
Scununazu emphasized that IQOS remains Romania’s leading new tobacco product in 2024.
In the same year, PMI launched the ILUMA i Prime device and ZYN nicotine pouches. While investing $730 million in its Otopeni manufacturing facility.
Currently, 92% of the new tobacco products produced at the plant are exported to 54 markets across five continents.
Romania’s Key Role in PMI’s Smoke-Free Strategy
PMI views Romania as central to its global smoke-free transformation.
The number of IQOS users in Romania has steadily grown to over 500,000, reflecting the country’s gradual progress toward a smoke-free future.
For over 30 years, PMI has maintained a strong partnership with the Romanian government through ongoing investments and tax contributions.
Japan: Major Destination for Romanian Heated Tobacco Exports
Over the past decade, 8.5 million Japanese smokers have switched to IQOS, contributing to a decline in Japan’s adult smoking rate from 20% to 13%.
Most of the consumables used in Japan’s heated tobacco products are produced at PMI’s Otopeni plant in Romania.
In 2023, Romania’s exports of heated cigarettes to Japan were valued at €594 million, representing approximately 42% of total exports in that category.
Expanding Product Portfolio with ZYN
The introduction of ZYN nicotine pouches marks another key step in PMI’s diversification of its new tobacco product portfolio.
PMI plans to continue investing in the Otopeni plant through 2025, with an emphasis on sustainability, energy efficiency, and innovation.
Commitment to Carbon Neutrality by 2025
As part of its sustainability roadmap, PMI Romania aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025.
Planned initiatives include the installation of solar panels and other environmental measures designed to significantly reduce carbon emissions at the Otopeni facility.
