Tobacco exports decline

via Tobacco exports decline | The Herald January 15, 2015 by Elita Chikwati

Tobacco exports this marketing season raked in US$773 million, a decline from US$877 million during the same period in 2013, Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board statistics show. The decline in the exports has been attributed to a strike by workers at Mashonaland Tobacco Company that occurred between September and October last year.

TIMB chief executive Dr Andrew Matibiri said the tobacco exports were still going on.

“The decline in the figures was a result of a strike at MTC last year which delayed tobacco exports,” he said.

“These figures are not permanent and we expect the exports to increase.”

The average price for the exports declined marginally from US$5,72 per kg in 2013 to US$5,70 per kg in 2014.

Last season, Zimbabwe exported 153 million kg to different destinations that include China, Belgium, France, Poland, Portugal and South Africa.

According to TIMB, China, Belgium and South Africa have remained the major export markets, while Japan, which used to offer the highest price, has now reduced its offerings.

The latest update shows that Japan bought 21kg of semi-processed tobacco from Zimbabwe at US$3 per kg last year, when in 2013, that country bought 600kg of the crop at US$10,03 per kg.

This season China offered the highest price of US$8,37 per kg, importing 48 million kg worth US$402 million.

Last year, Zimbabwe exported tobacco to 55 countries, while in 2013 the country sold the crop to 51 countries. On imports, the country brought in 8 million kg of tobacco worth US$29 million at an average price of US$3,64 per kg.

The country imports other varieties of tobacco that are not produced locally for blending purposes.

Processing firms import the tobacco varieties from Zambia, India, Malawi, Mozambique, Britain and Bangladesh.