Turkey saw its 2016 crop output at 76 million kilograms. Specifically, the Izmir variety achieved 53 million kilograms, of which 52 million were exported, yielding an average price of EUR7.09/kg.
Macedonia saw its 2016 crop of Prilep and Yaka decline to an estimated 28 million kilograms versus 33 million in the year prior. Yet the country Macedonia is now ranked second-largest oriental producer at 47% of Turkish total output, and 50% larger than the world’s number three producer, Greece. Top quality Prilep AB has been fetching prices above EUR3.00/kg, equivalent to the green leaf price of Turkish Izmir.
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Greece is thought to have grown about 18.5 million kilograms of classical oriental tobacco in 2016, made up of about 12 million kg of Basma, and about 6.5 million kg of Katerini. But yields of both Basma and Katerini were said to have been down because of dry weather, which, by way of compensation, nevertheless created excellent quality Katerini crop and above-average quality Basma.
Bulgaria saw its 2014/15 crop output of Krumovgrad and Bulgaria North reach 16 million kilograms, versus an abnormally low 2015/16 crop of only 12 million kg. Pricing has been low in the absence of a clear government policy on tobacco growing subsidies. Farmers had been demonstrating against the low prices, which they claimed to be below production cost.
(Source: Star Agritech International; published October 2018; with additional editing by TOBACCO ASIA)