Is There a Global ZYN Shortage?

Anyone keeping tabs on what’s going on in the world of nicotine pouches has almost certainly heard the news of the ongoing ZYN shortage. The shortage was caused by drastic spikes in demand for the pouches in the US, but it doesn’t apply to the rest of the world due to different supply sources.

 

We’ll explain this in more detail throughout this article to clear up any concerns or misconceptions about the impact of the US shortage.

 

Want to buy ZYN from the US or understand how the current situation will affect US customers? Check out this guide to the ZYN shortage.

 

Is There a ZYN Shortage?

It’s not a drill or a conspiracy theory — there is indeed a ZYN shortage happening. However, it’s important to note that the US is the only region with supply issues, and the rest of the world isn’t affected.

 

News of the so-called “Zyndemic” (as the shortage has been termed by some social media users) first began as whispers, with pouch lovers discussing the lack of availability online to figure out if it was a universal issue.

 

It has since been confirmed that the shortage is a nationwide issue for the US and not just restricted to a few cities or states. Many news outlets have reported on the supply issues, and various major retailers have introduced restrictions to help them manage their stock levels.

 

The shortage first began around May 2024 and has been an ongoing issue throughout 2024.

 

Causes of the Shortage

The cause of the shortage is simple. Basically, the brand enjoyed such a huge explosion in its popularity that there were more people trying to get their hands on the products than there were items available.

 

This led to the supply chain tensions we’re seeing now.

 

Part of the brand’s explosion in popularity may be due to its recent media coverage and virality on the socials, especially TikTok.

 

Did a ZYN Factory Fire Cause the Shortage?

When the rumors about the shortage first broke out, misinformation began to spread. One of the most prominent theories was that a factory fire was responsible for the lack of products.

 

This rumor isn’t completely unfounded. It’s true that there was a fire at a ZYN factory.

 

However, the factory in question wasn’t based in the US, but rather in Gothenburg, Sweden (which is where ZYN for the rest of the world is produced).

 

Even in Sweden itself, the fire didn’t cause any supply issues. It was extinguished within a few hours and seemingly had minimal impact on production.

 

Other unfounded rumors have suggested the shortage could be due to legal issues or an upcoming ZYN ban, as the brand has been attracting a fair amount of political attention in the US. But the reality is far less dramatic — people simply really like ZYN, to the point where factories can’t keep up.

 

Nothing more, nothing less.

 

What Does the Shortage Mean for Those Outside the US?

As stated already, the current shortage is only affecting the US.

 

It might sound logical to assume that a shortage in one region of the world would cause a shortage elsewhere in the world. After all, wouldn’t a lack of ZYN in the US prompt Americans to buy up products from elsewhere, causing a global shortage?

 

As it turns out, the answer is no.

 

That’s because US ZYN sold in the US and nicotine pouches sold elsewhere are distinct products that are made in different factories.

 

Production of non-US ZYN nicotine pouches takes place in the aforementioned Gothenburg factory. Meanwhile, the American pouches are manufactured in Kentucky.

 

The two factories make distinct products with notable differences, and parent company Philip Morris International (PMI) hasn’t announced any intentions to change this any time soon. It has other plans for increasing production, which we’ll get to now.

 

Will the Shortage End?

There’s a concrete plan to get production back on track. Unfortunately, it’s not going to be an immediate fix.

 

For now, PMI is focused on increasing production at its existing Kentucky factory. Based on the quantity of pouch cans it’s currently producing, this seems to be working, but it’s not enough to entirely satisfy demand.

 

PMI’s long-term plan is to open another US factory, this time in Colorado. It is set to begin production in 2026, by which time American customers should be able to consume all the ZYN their hearts desire, assuming that all goes well.