Tobacco exports rake in $163m

Oliver Kazunga Business Reporter
ZIMBABWE has this year earned $163 million from 41,3 million kilogrammes tobacco exports with South Africa still maintaining the lead as the country’s major importer of the golden leaf.Statistics from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board show that this year’s total exports were higher than last year’s 37,5 million kg sold during the comparable period.

South Africa has since the beginning of the year consumed 10,4 million kg valued at $30,8 million.
China, which at the moment is on fourth position having imported 2,5 million kg worth $21 million, was in the past the major importer of Zimbabwe’s flue-cured tobacco.

Agronomist and tobacco expert Mr Thomas Nherera has said South Africa had managed to maintain the lead as the top importer of the country’s tobacco because it had ceased importing     through the “expensive” third party channels in Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.

South Africa now imports directly from the Zimbabwe tobacco industry at a lower price than from other countries.
Belgium was the second major consumer of the golden leaf from Zimbabwe importing 7,3 million kigogrammes worth $34,2 million.

The United Arab Emirates, which was on third position, has this year imported 4,1 million kilogrammes of tobacco worth $10,4 million.
Indonesia has maintained last year’s fifth position during the same period having imported 2,1 million kilogrammes valued at $11 million.

During the same period in 2012, that Asian country imported 3 million kilogrammes of tobacco worthy $17,6 million.
Although Government has revised downwards agriculture growth to 5,4 percent in 2013, the tobacco  industry continues to anchor the farming sector.

Zimbabwe projects to produce 170 million kg of tobacco this year.
As at 18 July 2013, 162 million kg of tobacco valued at US$597,9 million had been sold at an average price of $3,70 a kilogramme.

Last year, more than $750 million in tobacco export earnings were realised consolidating agriculture as one of the major mainstays of the country’s economy.