Source: FAOSTAT
High Quality Tobacco graphic
Due to environmental effects brought on by Mount Raung’s eruption, Indonesia’s total tobacco growing area in 2015 was reduced to an estimated 20.000 hectares from the approximately 32,000 hectares cultivated in the previous crop year, according to an online report published by PT. Far East Leaf Indonesia. Total crop output across the archipelago fell accordingly, leveling in at just slightly above 186,000 tons (2014: 200,900 tons), with much of the crop quality not only affected by the volcanic eruption earlier in the year but also heavy rains and other negative weather factors later on. With regards to tobacco types, PT. Far East Leaf reported the following figures:
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FCV Lombok
Production of FCV Lombok in 2015 fell to about 35.000 tons, with the top grade price reaching a medium of IDR38,000 per kilogram (approx. $2,90/kg). About 50% of the cured leaf was considered good grade, 20% medium, while the balance was graded as low quality.
FCV Bojonegoro
Production of FCV Bojonegoro in 2015 year reached approximately 30,000 tons. Crop quality was affected by the early onset of the rainy season, leading to per-kilo price slumps of only between IDR6,000 to 13,000 ($0.46 – 0.99) from the normal price of IDR24,000 to 28,000 ($1.83 – 2.13).
Jatim, Madura, Kasturi
2015 production of Jatim tobacco totaled about 77.000 tons, which included Jatim VO, Kasturi, Rajangan Paiton, Rajangan Madura, and Krosok/Hang Paiton. The per-kilo price of Kasturi VO dropped to between 5,000 to 7,000 IDR ($0.38 – 0.53) from the usual price of IDR15,000 to 20,000 IDR ($1.15 – 1.52) as most of the crop was impacted by ash fallout from Mount Raung.
DFC and other Central Java tobaccos
Total crop yield in Central Java in 2015 was about 41.166 tons, which included DFC, Rajangan Temanggung, Janturan, etc.
Besuki Na Oogst (cigar leaf and DAC)
The production of Besuki NO cigar leaf (Dekblad, Omblad) in 2015 amounted to an estimated 8,560 tons, of which only 25% (or 2,140 tons) was free of Mt. Raung ash. However, PT. Mayangsari’s Reinder Hartmans contested this figure, saying, “This is not true since the volcanic eruption only occurred during a part of the first crop, which left the second crop unaffected.” His estimated guess is that at least 50% of the total crop yield that year was not contaminated with ash.
(Sources: PT. Far East Leaf Indonesia/Statistics Indonesia/FAOSTAT/PT. Mayangsari)