Overview
- This week in Buenos Aires Philip Morris staged its Technovation Smoke‑Free summit to press a regional rollout of nicotine pouches and other non‑combustion products as part of a decade‑long strategy backed by more than US$16 billion in global investment.
- PMI says smoke‑free products now account for about 42% of its revenue and that it aims for two‑thirds of sales to come from those categories by 2030.
- Company executives said Argentina is an inflection point after rules cleared the way for nicotine pouches and could allow heated‑tobacco product introductions that PMI is preparing to commercialize pending local approvals.
- Public‑health groups and national institutes challenged some industry claims at the summit, disputing illicit‑trade figures (industry studies cite roughly 30% while INSP estimates under 10%), warning about youth access and urging careful evaluation of health evidence.
- Surveys presented at the event showed widespread public confusion about nicotine versus harms from combustion, a gap PMI says limits switching and that regulators, health systems and targeted communication will need to address; the company also highlighted local jobs and supply‑chain ties as part of its economic case.