Tobacco daily sale hits historic high. . .Record-breaking 7,2 million kg traded
TOBACCO deliveries have eclipsed last season’s volumes with the country achieving a historic milestone on May 2, 2025, when a record-breaking 7,2 million kilogrammes were sold, marking the highest daily volume ever attained in history.
The highest daily sale was last recorded on Day 32 of 2023 when 6,8 million kilogrammes went under the hammer.
Daily tobacco volumes are now averaging between 5,5 million kilogrammes and 6 million kilogrammes.
Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board acting chief executive Mr Emmanuel Matsvaire said given the current momentum and volume estimates, the 2025 season was on track to reach record total sales.
He said the unprecedented volumes reflected the significant progress made by farmers, most of whom have now completed curing and grading.
“This exceptional performance reflects that most farmers have now completed curing and grading, resulting in high volumes being delivered to the floors.
“Currently, daily sales are averaging between 5,5 and 6 million kilogrammes, firmly placing us at the peak of the 2025 marketing season,” he said.
Mr Matsvaire said despite this strong throughput, around 40 percent of the crop remained unsold, with many companies still holding substantial outstanding volumes.
“Given the current momentum and volume estimates, the 2025 season is on track to reach record total sales, underscoring the importance of sustained logistical and operational coordination across the sector.
The TIMB revealed that volumes delivered have so far surpassed last season’s by 19 percent. By Day 48, farmers had sold 183 million kilogrammes valued at US$ 619,1 million at an average price of US$3,38 per kilogramme.
This is an increase from the 150,7 million kilogrammes of tobacco worth US$531 million that had been sold during the corresponding period last year.
The bulk of the crop has been sold through the contract floors while the auction system continues to receive low volumes.
So far 173,4 million kilogrammes of tobacco worth US$585,5 million have gone under the hammer at the contract floors while 9.5 million kilogrammes worth US$33,6 million have passed through the auction floors.
More than 90 percent of tobacco farmers are growing the crop under contract arrangement where they are provided with inputs and in some cases technical advice.
Tobacco farmers have, however, called for reforms to safeguard auction floors, emphasising the need for decentralisation, automatic de-contracting for debt-free farmers, and stricter regulatory oversight to ensure transparency and competitiveness.
Some farmers also side-market and sell their self-financed tobacco through the contract floors where they believe it may fetch higher prices.
This practice has been undermining the auction system.
Auction floors are centralised in Harare while some contractors have decentralised theirs.
This means a self-financed grower has to incur costs to transport tobacco to the auction floors in Harare.
Tobacco Association of Zimbabwe president, Mr George Seremwe, said local funding of tobacco would go a long way in ensuring more farmers produce free tobacco.
“Contract farming, while beneficial for input provision, limits local economic benefits due to reliance on off-shore funding. Efforts to promote localised funding are ongoing but are yet to bear fruit,” he said.-herald
