(Yicai) Jan. 21 -- The export value of Chinese electronic cigarettes declined last year, according to the latest official statistics.

China's e-cigarette exports fell 1.1 percent to USD11 billion in 2024 from the previous year, according to data from the General Administration of Customs.

The top export destination was the United States, with exports reaching USD3.7 billion, accounting for 36 percent of the total. The United Kingdom ranked second with USD1.2 billion, South Korea was third with USD717 million, mainly because of its role as a transit hub, and Germany was fourth with USD677 million.

Other major export destinations for Chinese e-cigarettes were Russia, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates.

In December, China's e-cigarette exports exceeded USD1 billion, up 8.8 percent from November but down 7.9 percent from a year earlier, according to GAC data.

Exports to the US reached USD398 million in December, accounting for 39 percent of the total. Those to the UK and South Korea rose 15 percent and 4.5 percent to USD101 million and USD64 million, respectively, from November. Germany imported 21 percent fewer e-cigarettes from China in the period, for a total of USD51 million.

The Chinese e-cigarette industry is mainly export-oriented. Exports peaked at CNY138.3 billion (USD19 billion) in 2021 but began falling the following year because of the introduction of comprehensive regulations worldwide.

In 2022 and 2023, Chinese exports of e-cigarettes dropped 18 percent and 30 percent to CNY113.4 billion and CNY79.2 billion (USD10.9 billion), respectively.

Editor: Futura Costaglione