Japan
Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) recenly announced today that the Leaf Tobacco Deliberative Council (LTDC), chaired by Yoshio Kobayashi, released its annual determinations for domestic leaf tobacco cultivation area and grower prices for 2016, in response to a proposal submitted by JT earlier in the day.
The council was in general agreement with JT’s proposal, and determined that in 2016, the domestic tobacco cultivation area will be set at 8,276 hectares, a decrease of 3.4% compared to the contracted area of the previous year. The leaf tobacco grower price for all leaf types will be set at an average of ¥1,877.57 (US$15.23) per kg, a decrease of 2.21% compared to that of the previous year.
JT will undertake its operations in 2016 based on the council’s determinations.
LTDC is a council, which confers on important matters concerning the cultivation and purchase of domestically grown leaf tobacco in response to inquiries by JT representatives. The council consists of no more than 11 members, appointed by JT with the approval of the minister of finance from among representatives of domestic leaf tobacco growers and academic appointees.