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JT International Asia Manufacturing Corp. is investing more than P2.1 billion to expand its manufacturing facility at LIMA Estate in Batangas, including the company’s first Dry Ice Expanded Tobacco plant in Southeast Asia
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About P1.9 billion is going into a Dry Ice Expanded Tobacco plant, JTI’s first such facility in Southeast Asia
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More than P177 million was invested to expand the plant’s Controlled Atmosphere treatment facility, which became operational in July 2026
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The facility produces for the Philippine market and exports to 22
JT International Asia Manufacturing Corp. (JTI-AMC) is investing more than P2.1 billion to expand and upgrade its manufacturing facility at LIMA Estate in Malvar, Batangas, including the company’s first Dry Ice Expanded Tobacco (DIET) plant in Southeast Asia.
About P1.9 billion of the investment is going toward the new tobacco-processing facility, while more than P177 million is being spent to expand the plant’s Controlled Atmosphere (CA) treatment facility, JTI said in a media release.
The CA facility became operational in July 2026, doubling its treatment capacity, JTI said.
“These fresh investments reflect our confidence in the Philippines, its economic potential and its importance to JTI’s operations,” said Amir Vajdi, JTI-AMC factory lead, Philippines. “We continue to invest in the capabilities of our Batangas facility and in the people and technologies that will support its development over the long term.”
The Batangas site is the first JTI manufacturing facility in Southeast Asia to use DIET technology. JTI also operates DIET facilities in Bangladesh and Japan.
DIET is a tobacco-processing technology that expands tobacco to improve the preparation and use of the raw material in manufacturing. JTI said the process supports greater consistency and efficiency in tobacco processing.
“Our Batangas facility has built the manufacturing capabilities and technical expertise needed to support advanced technologies like DIET,” Vajdi said.
“That strong foundation made Batangas a natural location for JTI’s first DIET plant in Southeast Asia and allows us to continue advancing our manufacturing capabilities in the Philippines.”
The company’s Batangas facility serves the Philippine market and exports to 22 markets, according to JTI.
Oguz Kose, JTI’s regional vice-president for supply chain in South Asia, said the company has invested more than $600 million in the Philippines since 2017.
Vajdi said the Philippines continues to offer a competitive environment for long-term investment, citing local talent, its location, and the manufacturing ecosystem.
