adminStatistics from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board show that during the same period last year, $133,9 million was realised from 45,9 million kg.
TIMB said crop delivered under contract arrangement continued to dominate the floors with 31,9 million kg having so far been sold compared to 25,2 million kg delivered under the auction system.
The seasonal average price of the golden leaf per kg at each of the four auction centres stands as follows: Tobacco Sales Floors $3,75, Boka Tobacco Floors $3,63, Millennium Tobacco Floors $3,71 and $3,84 at Premier Tobacco Floors.
The average price for contract crop was $3,84 a kg while the crop delivered under auction arrangement was $3,78 a kg.
The seasonal total average price was $3,78 per kg.
The board also revealed that 745 939 bales of the golden leaf have been laid at the floors with 706 585 sold while 31 764 bales rejected.
Among other reasons, the bales were rejected because of underweight, overweight, and oversize.
Production of the golden leaf for the past three years has been on the increase buoyed by favourable prices.
Zimbabwe peaked production of tobacco leaf at 271 million kg in 1999.
The country is slowly moving towards regaining its status as one of the major producers of the golden leaf in the world.
This year, stakeholders in the tobacco sector project that 150 million kg of the crop will go under the hammer compared to 133 million kg achieved last year raking $370 million.
Online Reporter