JAPAN
Japan Tobacco Inc. announced on October 25 that the Leaf Tobacco Deliberative Council (LTDC), chaired by Yoshitsugu Minagawa, released its report to the consultation for domestic leaf tobacco cultivation area and purchase prices for 2020, in response to a proposal submitted by Japan Tobacco.
The council was in general agreement with Japan Tobacco’s proposal and responded that in 2020, the domestic tobacco cultivation area will be set at 6,422 hectares, a decrease of 5.1% compared to the cultivation area of the previous year. The leaf tobacco purchase price will remain the same as last year at an average of JPY1,912.32 (US$17.47) per kg for all leaf types. Japan Tobacco will abide by the council’s report and will undertake its tobacco leaf operations in 2020.
The Leaf Tobacco Deliberative Council is a council which confers on important matters concerning the cultivation and purchase of domestically grown leaf tobacco in response to inquiries by the Japan Tobacco representative. The council consists of no more than 11 members, appointed by Japan Tobacco and approved by the minister of finance from among representatives of domestic leaf tobacco growers and academic scholars.