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Japan was offering the highest price for tobacco from Zimbabwe for the 2012 season at US$10,63 per kg.
TIMB chief executive Dr Andrew Matibiri said 40 percent of Zimbabwe’s tobacco was exported to China. He said that the country last year exported 57 million kg of the golden leaf to the Asian country.
“Our tobacco continues to be in demand the world over,” said Dr Matibiri. “China is not alone in the pursuit of our tobacco. This is so because of its good smoking flavour and very few cigarette brands globally are made without Zimbabwean components.”
Dr Matibiri said local producers had high production skills complemented by the good climate, soils and techniques.
Tobacco last year accounted for 26 percent of the country’s total foreign currency earnings, a figure the tobacco industry hopes to eclipse from this year’s earnings.
Britain, Belgium and the United Arab Emirates have also shown great interest in local tobacco, with the UK buying 10 million kg last season and 11 million kg so far this year.
The UAE has so far imported 5 million kg from Zimbabwe, 8 million kg shy of the figure it imported last season. Belgium last year imported 9 million kg of local tobacco and has so far imported 7 million kg.
South Africa is the leading consumer of Zimbabwean tobacco in the region, importing 12 million kg last year and another 7 million kg this year.
The figure is likely to rise considering that the marketing season is still in progress.
Sudan is another African country that has also shown interest in Zimbabwe’s tobacco, importing 1 million kg last year and 2 million kg so far this year.
China and Zimbabwe’s trade in tobacco started in the 1980s after the Chinese developed an interest in the pale to lemon coloured tobacco produced mostly under irrigation in the Highveld areas of Marondera, Wedza, Beatrice and Harare South.
The last 10 years saw a major shift in China’s import patterns as the Asian giant broadened its scope to include all quality tobacco that is produced in Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter