2023 tobacco exports up 25pc

ZIMBABWE exported tobacco valued US$1,237 billion last year compared to US$983,4 million generated in 2022 figures from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) show.

According to a report released by TIMB for the week ending December 29, 2023, the country last year exported 236 112 887 kilogrammes at an average price of US$5,24 a kg.

In 2022, Zimbabwe exported 198 330 416 kg.

Last year, the country exported the bulk of its golden leaf to countries in the Far East followed by Africa, the European Union, Middle East, Europe and the Americas respectively.

During the period under review, the Far East imported 110 275 071 kg valued at US$785,4 million at an average price of US$7,12 a kg while Africa bought 41 486 752 kg valued US$144,8 million at an average price of US$3,49 a kg.

Last year, the European Union consumed 39 369 210 kg that were sold at an average price of US$4,38 a kg earning Zimbabwe US$172,4 million while the Middle East imported 31 842 833 kg valued US$83,8 million with an average price of US$2,63 per kg.

Europe imported 6 767 522 kg from Zimbabwe last year at US$27,4 million while the Americas consumed 6 371 473 kg spending US$23,7 million of flue-cured tobacco from Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, a total of 112 906 growers have registered to grow tobacco in the 2023/24 summer cropping season

compared to 144 446 growers who had registered during the same period in 2022.

Tobacco, in Zimbabwe is grown mainly in Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central, Midlands, Manicaland and in some parts of Masvingo Province.

-businessweekly