Clove Cigarettes Market By Type (Hand-rolled Kreteks, Machine-made Kreteks, Menthol Clove Cigarettes, Others), By Tobacco Blend (100% Clove, Clove-Tobacco Blend, Low Nicotine Clove Cigarettes), By Distribution Channel (Retail Stores, Online Sales, Specialty Tobacco Shops, Others), By End-user (Adult Smokers, Niche Enthusiasts, • Occasional Smokers, Others), Global Market Size, Segmental analysis, Regional Overview, Company share analysis, Leading Company Profiles And Market Forecast, 2025 – 2035

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What trends will shape the Clove Cigarettes Market in the coming years?

The Clove Cigarettes Market accounted for USD 118.2 Billion in 2024 and USD 125.53 Billion in 2025 is expected to reach USD 229.08 Billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of around 6.2% between 2025 and 2035. The Clove Cigarettes Market is about the process of making, distributing, and selling cigarettes that have been flavored with clove, a spice characterized by a sweet and aromatic or slightly sweet taste. These cigarettes, popularly known as kreteks, are of Indonesian origin and have gradually become popular in various parts as a result of their taste and different smoking style. As opposed to the common tobacco cigarette, clove cigarettes mix tobacco with cloves and other flavoring ingredients, making their taste milder and more fragrant.

Consumer preference, cultural acceptance, and regulatory frameworks are the factors that shape the market, as most countries have stringent policies about flavored or spiced cigarettes since they pose some considerable health risks. The main consumers tend to be young adults who are likely to be individuals who might need an alternative to smoking cigarettes. Campaigns towards health awareness and anti-smoking advertisements are also determinants of the market increment since these products are yet to be considered as those that lead to respiratory damage and addiction to nicotine. 

What do industry experts say about the Clove Cigarettes Market trends?

"Clove cigarettes are often associated with experiential and lifestyle-based consumption rather than habitual use. This positions them differently from standard tobacco products, with younger adult consumers and niche enthusiasts driving the demand, especially through online and specialty channels."

• Prof. Sarah Lindholm, Professor of Behavioral Health at the University of Copenhagen

Which segments and geographies does the report analyze?

What are the key drivers and challenges shaping the Clove Cigarettes Market?

How does strong cultural acceptance in Southeast Asia drive consumer demand?

The clove cigarettes market is dominated by hand-rolled and machine-made kreteks in Indonesia, which are backed by deep-seated cultural importance. Kreteks are not just a type of tobacco; they are a part of the social fabric, considered to be national identifications and quite often, linked to masculinity, heritage, and tradition. Such cultural resonance is converted into a lasting demand with both the rural and the urban consumers settling in kreteks more than in other cigarette varieties.

According to government data, in 2017, more than 95 percent of cigarettes sold in Indonesia were kreteks, and in 2021, close to a third--around 60 million individuals--of all adult tobacco consumers smoked kreteks. Such huge stats highlight the cultural acceptance that has seen kreteks rise above an exclusive designation into an accommodated choice, thus contributing to the production, brand dedication, as well as sustaining market invigoration throughout Southeast Asia.

Why does the distinctive clove aroma and flavor attract global smokers?

The craving for the clove taste and smell highly influences the growth of the Clove Cigarettes Market, as this gives the whole smoking process a smooth, warm, aromatic experience that is not achieved by normal tobacco products. The inhalation of the usual and natural eugenol contained in the clove-infused blends also becomes easier on the lungs, and the smoke becomes palatable and refined. This sensorially attracts younger people as well as experimental adult smokers who may be attracted to flavoured and exotic choices of tobacco.

Providing an unusual sense of taste, clove cigarettes are the products that are offered as a ritual and are a cultural one, not only a source of nicotine. According to government statistics, in Indonesia, a country with a strong clove-driven cigarette culture, over 90 percent of smokers choose kreteks (clove cigarettes), which can be evidenced by how aroma and flavour contribute to the smoke demand. This high consumer desire shows that flavour innovation is a critical factor in influencing the development and character of the Clove Cigarettes Market in the international market.

How do health risks and nicotine addiction affect consumer acceptance globally?

The Clove Cigarettes Market is highly inhibited since more and more people understand the health-related risks and the addictive nature that is caused by smoking cigarettes. Clove cigarettes are usually viewed as less harmful due to their sweet smell and ease of inhaling, but they have nicotine and other bad chemicals that may cause dependence. Health experts around the world point out that the numbing effects of eugenol on cloves can paralyze the throat, which enables one to inhale more smoke and therefore results in more contact with toxins. This has also been a cause of anxiety amongst the consumers who are increasingly taking care of their health and are wary of consuming tobacco.

Messages about the dangers of lung cancer, heart disease, and tobacco addiction incited by clove cigarettes still form part of health messages in medical facilities and anti-smoking campaigns. This kind of awareness makes new users hesitate to use the product, and in established smokers, it makes them think of using alternatives such as vaping or other nicotine replacement therapies. Therefore, health and the stigma of nicotine addiction a factor that limits the overall acceptance and development of the market, in general.

Can premium and luxury segments grow further with artisanal clove cigarettes?

The Clove Cigarettes Market has vast opportunities in the premium and luxury segment, especially with the increasing popularity of artisanal clove cigarettes. These roll products are hand-rolled and are equally products of traditional methods, a factor that endears them to the consumers who value originality, exclusivity, and cultural pride. At artisanal clove cigarette products, they have positioned themselves as lifestyle products and not smokers alone, catering to a segment of smokers that value sophistication and novel sensory experiences.

The tendency of premiumization in the tobacco industry enhances its attractiveness further as consumers are ready to spend more money on the quality, gimmicks, and specific flavorings. Heritage-based branding, limited-edition packaging, and organic blends make their place in the positioning, creating luxury markets. Furthermore, the world market presents an opportunity for its export growth by being interested in exotic and culturally grounded products. This combination of tradition and luxury allows the artisanal clove cigarettes to stand out and bring distinctiveness to the mass-produced clove cigarettes, which open new growth opportunities and improve brand value in the Clove Cigarettes Market.

How does export potential increase as exotic blends attract international markets?

Export potential is high with the Clove Cigarettes Market, given that the exotic blends still find their way into the interest of international consumers. Clove cigarettes have a flavor and aroma uniqueness and a set that attracts many worldwide users of smoked products, as many seek unique and culturally distinctive items. This is the advantage of this exotic positioning that manufacturers located in regions such as Southeast Asia would have the opportunity of getting outside the domestic demand and seeking niche markets in foreign lands.

An increasing interest of smokers in North America, Europe, and the Middle East in satisfaction of the satisfaction they seek to obtain with alternative tobacco products contributes to this expansion. Also, their premium and flavoured versions contribute to making them more appealing to the category of specialty imports. The export-led growth is further supported by the view of the cigarettes made of clove as an artisan or luxury product, which is attractive in the premium retailing and duty-free networks. With the growing strength of cultural branding and product innovation, the export markets will be significant in creating a long-term prospect for the Clove Cigarettes Market.

What are the key market segments in the Clove Cigarettes industry?

Based on the Type, the Clove Cigarettes Market has been classified into Hand-rolled Kreteks, Machine-made Kreteks, Menthol Clove Cigarettes, and Others. In the clove cigarettes market, the most dominant segment is the Hand-rolled Kreteks because the market shows loyalty to the segment, mostly because of its traditional and cultural values in areas such as Indonesia, where clove cigarettes have their roots. These are cigarettes, which are naturally made via a combination of tobacco and clove buds, thus having a unique smell and a deeper flavor than the machine-made brands.

This hand-rolling aspect of hand-rolled Kreteks has its appeal to users who care about traditional, homemade value, and also the quality of smoking, as it is a bit more of a premium experience. The segment also has a good consumer loyalty since most people who smoke have hand-rolled Kreteks because they relate them to tradition and quality. The extended method of production enables it to be more flexible with taste and uniformity, and also, as a product of niche interest, this is a favorable option to many fans. Moreover, hand-rolled Kreteks tend to carry a premium price, a premium position, and perceived worth.

Based on the Tobacco Blend, the Clove Cigarettes Market has been classified into 100% Clove, Clove-Tobacco Blend, and Low Nicotine Clove Cigarettes. The Clove-Tobacco Blend segment proves to be the most diverse in the clove cigarettes market because of its ability to attract a bigger audience by incorporating the distinct flavor of cloves and the common taste of tobacco. This mixture gives a moderate smoking profile with delivered flavor and the expected nicotine sensory effect, hence garners more users than all clove or the low-nicotine counterparts.

Consumers tend to like this kind since it tastes like something old-fashioned and pleases habitual smokers who are used to tobacco. It is massively created in both the hand-rolled and machine-made version, which offers improved accessibility at the retail stores and specialty stores. The blend helps in brand innovation as well; clove offers a range and packaging that catches the attention of the niche and premium consumers. Generally, the combination of clove-tobacco makes most of the consumption such that they become the dominant option in the market.

Which regions are leading the Clove Cigarettes Market, and why?

The North American clove cigarette market is growing rapidly. The awareness of the use of flavored cigarettes is very high among consumers, yet stringent regulation policies have been put on flavored tobacco products, particularly in the U.S and in Canada, which has defined the market forces. Such laws restrict the supply of clove cigarettes in the normal retail shops, forcing most of their sales to specialty shops and online.

The trading largely promotes adult smokers in search of alternative or exotic smoking, which also targets people willing to buy cultural or traditional Asian products in the Southeast. The packaging, the strength of the flavor, and a perception of high quality are the frequent sources of brand differentiation. Regional marketing is biased towards dense population growth regions where there exists more demand for flavored tobacco products, as well as imports.  

The Asia Pacific clove cigarettes market is more established and culturally entrenched, especially in countries where the products were first developed, mainly Indonesia. They are highly acceptable among consumers because they are not only regarded as tobacco products but also as traditional or lifestyle products. It is a strong market that is developed by the production and distribution network that involves local manufacturers as well as the export to other neighboring countries.

Sales mainly take place in the urban and semi-urban centers of operation, and the retail centers, as well as specialty stores and online platforms, facilitate their accessibility. Flavors, packaging, and premium variants are other forms of innovation that enable brands to appeal to younger adults and hobbyists who seek novel experiences in their favorite brand of cigarettes. Government regulations in different countries are different, with some having flavored tobacco restrictions and others having less strict policies to consume different flavors in the tobacco industry, which has an impact on market penetration and market growth.

What does the competitive landscape of the Clove Cigarettes Market look like?

The market structure of the Clove Cigarettes Market has a high level of concentration, and the rivalry prevalent here is mainly between established manufacturers in Indonesia. The long-established reputable brands like Gudang Garam, HM Sampoerna, Bentoel Group, Djarum, Nojorono Tobacco, and Wismilak enjoy a prominent market presence because of a strong market base and consumer loyalty. Vertical integration helps these companies to control the production of cloves, distribution, and quality of cloves, as well as the practice of quality and price tolerance.

The process of product differentiation is an essential element of competition, and top brands launch new types of blends, flavoured versions, and organic products to appeal to a variety of customers. The brand recognition and large distribution channels further make them market-dominant. Regulation compliance also forms an important role as companies have high standards that are reinforced to enhance domestic and export opportunities. Also, the players are gravitating towards the idea of internationally expanding via moving into collaboration and investments to bring the emerging demand beyond Indonesia. In general, the customary competition is a combination of tradition, innovation of products, flexibility of regulations, and global presence.

Clove Cigarettes Market, Company Shares Analysis, 2024

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Which recent mergers, acquisitions, or product launches are shaping the Clove Cigarettes industry?

• In February 2024, Kretek International introduced a nicotine-free variant of its popular Djarum Bliss clove cigarettes, targeting health-conscious consumers. This launch is a strategic move to bypass strict regulatory barriers in the U.S. and Canadian markets while expanding its premium product portfolio.

Report Coverage:

By Type

• Hand-rolled Kreteks
• Machine-made Kreteks
• Menthol Clove Cigarettes
• Others  

By Tobacco Blend

• 100% Clove
• Clove-Tobacco Blend
• Low Nicotine Clove Cigarettes

By Distribution Channel

• Retail Stores
• Online Sales
• Specialty Tobacco Shops
• Others

By End-user

• Adult Smokers
• Niche Enthusiasts
• Occasional Smokers
• Others

By Region

North America

• U.S.
• Canada

Europe

• U.K.
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Spain
• Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

• China
• Japan
• India
• Australia
• South Korea
• Singapore
• Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

• Brazil
• Argentina
• Mexico
• Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

• GCC Countries
• South Africa
• Rest of Middle East & Africa

List of Companies:

• Djarum
• Gudang Garam Tbk
• HM Sampoerna Tbk
• Nojorono Tobacco International
• Bentoel Internasional Investama Tbk
• Wismilak Inti Makmur Tbk
• Karyadibya Mahardhika
• Djitoe Indonesian Tobacco
• Sukun Kudus
• Taru Martani
• Trisakti Purwosari Makmur
• Karya Dibya Mahardhika
• Pura Nusapersada
• Djarum Super
• BAT Indonesia

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)