Availability of Juul in ASEAN
Updated in November 2019
Malaysia
The company called ‘Vapers Union’ sells Juul online and there should be some sold at the shop too. It was founded in 2013 as an e-cigarette company in Malaysia. The company located in Selangor with shipping services nationwide. For more information, please go to https://www.juul.com/shop
Myanmar
The Facebook page Juul Fan Myanmar that Juul users shared photos and news articles about Juul. The page just started on 17 May 2019 with 180 fans. According to the conversation of fanpage, Juul is not available in Myanmar but the USA. The language used in this fanpage is English so it may target foreigners living in Myanmar not local people. For more information, please go to https://web.facebook.com/juulmyanmarfans?_rdc=1&_rdr
Singapore
No reliable information shows the availability of Juul in Singapore. However, the Juul’s regional head office of Juul is located in Singapore. “Given the volume of smokers, we view Asia as a high-priority region for the company,” Ken Bishop, Singapore-based regional head for Juul, said in an interview on Aug 22. “What we see is that smokers are very interested in these products. The consumer demand is super high.”[i]
Thailand
A number of Juul online shop in Thailand. One of famous shops is Facebook page called ‘Juul Thailand ไทย’ with 876 fans. The page has released since August 2018 aiming to sell Juul products from the US. Unlike Myanmar, the shop seems to target Thai customers by using Thai language. The shop does not provide price so that the customers have to send them the personal message to ask about it. For more information, please go to https://web.facebook.com/juulthailandth/
Vietnam
Various series of Juul sold online at the shop called ‘Vape4U’. The shop located in Ho Chi Minh City. This shop seems to be only for Juul. For more information, please go to https://vape4u.store/en/vape4u-juul-and-juul-pods-shop-in-saigon-vietnam/
[i] The Business Times. (2019). E-cigarette pioneer Juul looks to Asian smokers for growth. [online] Available at: https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/consumer/e-cigarette-pioneer-juul-looks-to-asian-smokers-for-growth [Accessed: 13 Nov 2019]
Definition
Updated in February 2020
Juul was launched in 2015. The device is similar to a sleek USB flash drive, can be charged in computer USB ports, with a number of flavors contained in Juul pod.[1] The amount of nicotine is equivalent as a pack of cigarettes. Ken Bishop, Juul Asia Pacific President mentioned that Juul was for adults. However, the product was not designed for adults because its appearance looked attractive for young people.[2] In 2019, Juul intended to expand the market to several countries in Asia, including Philippines and Indonesia.[3] Now, Juul is available in many countries in ASEAN.
Photo: PHF, Myanmar
[1] Adapted from CTFK’s presentation on E-cigarettes: Challenges and opportunities for Myanmar, 10 October 2019.
[2] Truth Initiative, What is Juul?, [online] At: https://truthinitiative.org/research-resources/emerging-tobacco-products/what-juul
[3] Steven Borowiec, 14 Jun 2019, Vaping giant targets lucrative Asian market with South Korean launch, Nikkei Asia Review, Daily Media Monitoring Philippines