NAIROBI: The country has realised over $500 million from 102,3 million kilogrammes of tobacco exported to different parts of the world since the beginning of the year.
Latest figures from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) show that during the comparable period last year, Zimbabwe earned $406 million from 79 million kg of flue-cured tobacco exported at an average price of $5,14 per kg.
As of October 9, the marketing board revealed that $500,9 million had been raked in. According to the data, the crop was exported at an average price of $4,90 a kg. Zimbabwe’s major consumer of the flue-cured golden leaf, China, has so far spent $214,4 million importing 26,3 million kg at an average price of $8,14 per kg.
Belgium was on second position consuming 12 million kg of tobacco valued $50,3 million averaging $4,17 a kg. On third spot was South Africa, which has so far spent $30,8 million on 10 million kg with an average price of $3,08 a kg.
Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were among the top five major consumers of Zimbabwe’s flue-cured tobacco having so far imported 6,4 million kg and 5,96 million kg respectively. Indonesia has spent $28,8 million importing tobacco from Zimbabwe with the crop averaging $4,52 a kg while the UAE has spent $17 million with the golden leaf averaging $2,84 a kg.
A total of 59 nations including Namibia, Tanzania, Lesotho, Egypt, Mauritius, Kenya, Morocco, Botswana, Malaysia, Italy, United States of America, Hungary, France, Cambodia, the United Kingdom, Paraguay and Taiwan are presently consuming tobacco from Zimbabwe.
Meanwhile, 56,314 growers have registered to grow tobacco in the 2015/16 season compared to 72,580 growers who had registered in the corresponding period last year. “New registration for 2015/16 is now 7,717 as compared to 14,711 in the prior year in a similar period,” said TIMB.
