Philip Morris is currently exploring options for the sale of its cigar business, although no official decision has yet been taken. Sources close to the matter speak of a valuation of at least one billion dollars desired by the tobacco giant. This cigar business stems directly from the takeover of Swedish Match, acquired in 2023 for $16 billion, mainly to acquire Zyn, its best-selling nicotine sachets.

A transition to a smoke-free world

The decline in smoking is an irreversible trend, and Philip Morris intends to lead rather than suffer the transition. Historically associated with cigarettes, the group has repositioned itself with strategic acquisitions, notably Swedish Match, whose Zyn nicotine sachets recorded 72% growth over the last 12 months.

Its flagship product is no longer Marlboro, but Iqos, a heated tobacco device. Currently, 40% of the company's sales come from smokeless products, and Philip Morris is aiming for two-thirds by 2030. Its CEO, Jacek Olczak, has already announced that the end of cigarettes is inevitable: "The destination is given," he told Bloomberg, announcing that one day Philip Morris will sell its last cigarette. A statement that marks a historic turning point for a company whose identity has long been inseparable from cigarettes.