Philip Morris International (PMI) announced on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, that it is significantly expanding its Zyn nicotine pouch lineup. The company is introducing new strengths for its flagship Zyn dry pouches: 1.5mg and 8mg, complementing the existing 3mg and 6mg options. Additionally, PMI is launching Zyn Ultra, a new pouch with higher moisture content, available in 9mg and 11mg strengths. This expansion aims to provide legal-age adults with a broader range of options for nicotine levels, flavor profiles, and formats.
PMI is also enhancing the value proposition of its Zyn products by transitioning its 3mg and 6mg dry pouch variants to contain 20 pouches per can, up from the previous 15. This change is expected to roll out during the fourth quarter of 2026. The move aligns with consumer preferences for a larger package size and is part of PMI's strategy to adjust Zyn's historical price premium to a more manageable level, supporting growth and market-share recovery.
This expansion follows significant regulatory milestones for Zyn in the U.S. In January 2025, Zyn became the first nicotine pouch authorized for sale by the FDA. Subsequently, in June 2026, the FDA issued modified risk tobacco product (MRTP) orders for 20 Zyn products, allowing PMI U.S. to communicate that using Zyn instead of cigarettes lowers the risk of several serious diseases. In August 2026, the FDA also granted marketing orders for 11 Zyn Ultra products, further solidifying PMI's portfolio of science-backed alternatives. PMI U.S. CEO Stacey Kennedy emphasized the company's commitment to providing diverse smoke-free options for the 45 million legal-age Americans who use nicotine.
Philip Morris is also ramping up its investment in the Zyn brand, including a new "When It Clicks" campaign, and expects the U.S. nicotine pouch category to grow at a rate above 20% in the longer term. The company's U.S. businesses, headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, employ over 3,000 people and operate manufacturing facilities in Owensboro, Kentucky, and a new 780,000-square-foot campus in Aurora, Colorado, which began commercial production in July 2026.
Jacek Olczak, CEO of Philip Morris International, reiterated the company's focus on expanding its smoke-free product portfolio, led by IQOS and Zyn, and highlighted a favorable currency impact of about $0.24 on full-year guidance. He also mentioned that the company views low-double-digit to low-teens earnings-per-share growth as an attainable medium-term objective, supported by a shift in business mix and a potential sixth consecutive year of total volume growth. The first capital-return priority remains the dividend and dividend growth, with discussions about share repurchases potentially following soon.
