ZIMBABWE’S tobacco exports have started the year on a high note after volumes surged by 182 percent to US$233 million by January 16, against US$83 million in the same period last year, according to latest statistics from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB).
The Far East continues to be the dominant market in volumes and value terms after absorbing 20 million kilogrammes of the product worth US$189 million at an average price of US$9,26 per kg.
The Far East market accounted for 81 percent of total export earnings, even though in volume terms it only took 70 percent.
The region offered the highest average price of US$9,26 per kg.
Europe is in second place after buying 2,9 million kg of the golden leaf valued at US$17,8 million.
The European Union market took the third position after procuring 2,1 million kg valued at US$11 million.
The Far East, Europe and EU markets were the top paying markets, purchasing the crop at average prices of US$9,26, US$6,14 and US$5,41 per kg, respectively.
African, the Americas and the Middle East markets accounted for the fourth, fifth and sixth places in terms of the export value, respectively, after collectively purchasing 3,6 million kg valued at US$14,3 million.
Meanwhile, the latest statistics released by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) for November 2025 show that the country exported tobacco products valued at US$260,221 million.
Tobacco accounted for 25 percent of national November exports, coming second after semi-manufactured gold with 42 percent.
ZimStat balance of payment and finance statistics manager, Ms Mable Chimhore, stated that tobacco, partly and wholly stemmed, came second among the top 10 products exported to the Southern African and Development Community.
“Among the top 10 products exported to SADC in November 2025 were nickel mattes (74,6 percent), tobacco, partly and wholly stemmed (4,4 percent), and coke (4,1 percent).
“The three products accounted for around 83 percent of the total export value of US$ 237,8 million,” she said.
Mrs Chimhore said tobacco was leading in exports to the EU.
“Zimbabwe’s exports to EU in November 2025 were tobacco, partly or wholly stemmed/stripped (68,3 percent), industrial diamonds (13,2 percent), and ferro-chromium (7,0 percent), accounting for around 89,0 percent of the total value (US$28,1 million) of goods exported to the EU,” she said.
Ms Chimhore said tobacco, partly or wholly stemmed/stripped, came second among the top export products to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in November 2025.
“The major exports to AfCFTA were nickel mattes (74,4 percent), tobacco, partly or wholly stemmed/stripped (4,7 percent), coke and semi-coke of coal (4,1 percent), and nickel ores (3,9 percent).
“The four products accounted for around 88 percent of the total export value of US$238,5 million,” she said.
The country exports flue-cured and other tobacco not stemmed/stripped, partly or wholly stemmed/stripped, burley, dark-fired, oriental tobacco partly or wholly stemmed/stripped and tobacco refuse.
Zimbabwe also exports cigarettes, cigars, cheroots and cigarillos containing tobacco, smoking tobacco, homogenised tobacco strips, tobacco extracts and other manufactured tobacco.
The TIMB has implored on investors to capitalise on the country’s 17 billion cigarette stick production potential and move from the current four billion as the country moves to increase tobacco value addition to 30 percent en route to a US$60 billion industry.-herald
