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China has remained the major importer of the country’s golden leaf having consumed 52,9 million kg valued at $467 million at an average price of $8,82 per kg.
The United Kingdom was second having so far spent $75,5 million to import 14,4 million kg of the golden leaf.
The data also revealed that as at 14 December, South Africa, Belgium and the United Arab Emirates were among the top five countries with seasonal tobacco imports amounting to 10,3 million kg, 10,1 million kg and 5,4 million kg respectively.
South Africa has spent $38,7 million importing Zimbabwean tobacco while Belgium and UAE have transactions worth $28,1 million and $9,8 million respectively.
TIMB also revealed that the average price for the grand total of seasonal exports was $5,91 per kg.
Other countries importing tobacco from Zimbabwe include the Netherlands, Vietnam, Denmark, Bulgaria, Germany and Ireland.
The country also exports its crop to Angola, Malawi, Tanzania, Lesotho, Botswana and Congo among other countries.
Zimbabwe’s crop is popular for its high quality and competitive flavour.
Meanwhile, 64 775 growers have registered to grow tobacco in the 2012/13 farming season.
During the same period last year, about 34 248 farmers had registered to grow the crop.
Of the 64 775 registered growers, 22 217 are new growers with 10 918 of these being communal farmers.
The A1 and A2 categories have 8 887 and 691 respectively while the small-scale category accounts for 1 721 new farmers.
The Tobacco Marketing and Levy Act requires that the farmers should register with TIMB before growing the crop.
Farmers who fail to register with the board would find themselves not being able to sell the crop at the auction floors.
Online Reporter