ZIMBABWE
Tobacco exports earned US$195 million from the sale of 53 m.kg by March 12, 2020, a substantial advance on the 40 m.kg worth US$174 million exported by the same time last year.
Statistics from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) show that for 2020, the Far East has accounted for 18,673 tons followed by the European Union with 11,205 tons and the Middle East with 8,981 tons while the rest of Africa is at the bottom with 6,967 tons since many other countries grow at least some tobacco.
Meanwhile, tobacco farmers have since indicated that they are ready to start delivering the irrigated crop to the floors and their contracted buyers’ floors ahead of the 2020 selling season whose start date is yet to be announced, though traditionally, the marketing season opens in March.
TIMB has since announced its commitment to ensure farmers will get 50% of their income in foreign currency.
This year’s tobacco output is projected to decline by 13% to 225 m.kg from a record high of 259 m.kg in the previous marketing season largely due to drought.