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France remains one of the most dynamic vaping markets in Europe. By 2026, the French vaping market is projected to reach approximately USD 2.3 billion in value. The country is currently home to around 5 million adult vapers, accounting for about 8.1% of the adult population. This sizable and relatively mature user base provides a stable and predictable foundation for market demand.
According to China Customs data on vaping products and related categories, exports to France grew by more than 15% year-on-year in 2025, underscoring the market’s solid fundamentals and the ongoing opportunities for brands, distributors, and supply chain partners.
Regulator Environment in France
The French e-cigarette market operates under the French Public Health Code (Code de la santé publique) and the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD). Key recent developments include:
Disposable Vape Ban
Effective February 2025, the nationwide prohibition on disposable e-cigarettes has reshaped market structure and accelerated the shift toward refillable and reusable product formats.
E-liquid Tax
At present, bottled e-liquids are not subject to a specific excise tax. This helps maintain a relatively stable cost structure across the supply chain and, in turn, provides brands with greater pricing flexibility.
Online Sales Restriction
Legislation banning online sales of e-cigarette products has been passed, requiring market participants to reassess channel strategies and place greater emphasis on compliant offline retail networks.
Overall, while regulatory oversight continues to tighten, France currently offers a comparatively predictable policy and tax environment, supporting longer-term planning for compliant brands and supply chain partners.
Product Structure in France
After the disposable vape ban, the product landscape in France has shifted significantly. Open systems now account for approximately 73% of the market. Within this segment, open-pod systems have increased their share to around 35%, driven by greater convenience, continuous product iteration, and improved user experience. Closed systems are primarily driven by 2 ml pre-filled pods, which account for roughly 25% of the market and continue to grow steadily.
Meanwhile, demand for compliant big puff vapes is also on the rise. Innovative formats such as 2+10 ml and 2+10+10 ml are gaining visibility among consumers. These products are not only supported by hardware innovation but more importantly by their ability to capture former disposable users through longer-lasting usage, higher puff counts, and more environmentally sustainable solutions.
In the e-liquid category, 60 ml shortfill e-liquids and DIY e-liquids remain highly popular in France. Their strong value proposition, broad flavor flexibility, and adaptable usage scenarios support sustained long-term demand.
For many years, French domestic brands such as Pulp, Liquideo, Alfaliquid, and E-Liquid France have built strong brand recognition and high levels of consumer loyalty. However, since the implementation of the disposable ban, BAR SALTS e-liquids, represented by brands such as JNR, have experienced explosive growth, capturing a significant share of demand from former disposable users and gradually reshaping flavor preferences within the bottled e-liquid segment.
Channel Landscape in France
As of 2025, vape shops remain the primary sales channel for e-cigarettes in France. The country currently has approximately 3,500 specialized vape stores, which constitutes an 8% year-on-year increase. These physical retail outlets account for nearly half (46%) of all e-cigarette purchases in the market.
Online channels currently account for about 28% of sales, which is expected to decline over time due to the adoption of online sales restriction provisions. This will further strengthen the importance of brick-and-mortar retail.
Market Outlook & Opportunities in France
Despite tighter regulations, the French vaping market continues to offer sustainable growth potential. Open systems, pre-filled pod vapes, and BAR SALTS e-liquids are expected to remain core growth drivers in the coming years.
For manufacturers and brands, success will depend on gaining deep local insights, partnering with agile compliance experts, and establishing strong retail channels.
How Hangsen Supports Your Success in France
As a professional e-liquid manufacturer and vaping flavor solution provider, Hangsen possesses proven experience in supporting clients to enter and expand within the French market. This includes customized BAR SALTS flavorings and bottled e-liquids to e-liquid filling services for various closed-system devices.
We also provide a strong localized manufacturing advantage in Europe. With our own production facility located in Poland, we are able to ensure a Made in Europe supply chain that delivers greater stability and efficiency for the French market. This setup significantly reduces logistics costs and shortens delivery lead times, while also helping brands better meet local expectations for regional production and regulatory compliance.
Meet Hangsen at Vapexpo France 2026
We are pleased to announce that Hangsen will participate in Vapexpo France 2026, one of the most influential industry exhibitions in France and across Europe. At the event, we will showcase our latest e-liquid and flavor solutions tailored for the French market and engage in in-depth discussions with industry partners on French market dynamics and flavor development trends. We look forward to meeting with you and exploring opportunities for collaboration.
Date: Mar 22 - 23, 2026
Location: Paris Expo Porte de Versailles
Booth: G42
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Meet Hangsen at Vapexpo France 2026
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