Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has earned $190.5 million from its sales of 27.3 million kilograms (m. kg) of tobacco exported all over the world since January 2016. Some 50 countries import flue-cured tobacco from Zimbabwe.
Latest data from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) show that so far 25 countries were buying Zimbabwe’s “golden leaf”. The tobacco is presently being exported at an average price of $6.99 per kg compared to $7.21 year-on-year.
Leading the pack of major consumers of Zimbabwe flue-cured tobacco, China has so far spent $162.9 million importing $20 m. kg. Belgium, Indonesia, South Africa, and Russia are among the top five countries importing tobacco from Zimbabwe. Belgium was in second place having so far imported 1.4 m. kg worth $6.6 million followed by Indonesia 1.2 m. kg valued $6.3 million. South Africa has so far spent $2.4 million on
1 m. kg of tobacco imported from Zimbabwe since January, while Russia has imported 1 m. kg worth $3 million.
Some other countries importing Zimbabwe’s tobacco include the United Arab Emirates, Bulgaria, Vietnam, Hong Kong, France, Netherlands, Germany, Sudan, and Tanzania.
The Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union in its weekly guide released at the beginning of the month said lack of confidence in prices and effects of drought have affected tobacco production this season.
“The current situation is that there’s a decline in the total area planted between the two years by significant four percent-3,860 hectares. Lack of confidence in the market prices and poor rains are some of the reasons the planted area has gone down. This is witnessed by the drop in the number of registered growers for the 2015/16 season,” says the guide.