Online Reporter
Patience Maturure, Agriculture Reporter
TOBACCO exports have generated US$633,6 million from the sale of 116 760 745 kilogrammes (kg) at an average price of US$5,43 per kg between January and September 5, 2025.
According to the latest figures from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board’s weekly report, the major buyers of Zimbabwean tobacco were countries from the Far East, which accounted for 50,1 million kg worth US$341 million at an average price of US$6,80 per kg.
Africa ranked second, purchasing 2,1 million kg of tobacco valued at US$100,9 million, at an average price of US$4,51 per kg.
The European union (EU) imported 16 million kg of Zimbabwean tobacco, worth US$90,3 million at an average price of US$5,62 per kg.
In fourth position was the Middle East, which bought 17,8 million kg worth US$55 million at an average price of US$3,08 per kg.
Approximately 5,6 million kg of semi-processed tobacco were sold to European markets, earning US$27,7 million at US$4,92 per kg, while the Americas purchased 4,5 million kg valued at US$18,3 million at an average price of US$3,99 per kg.
Zimbabwe also exported 28,560kg of tobacco to Oceania, earning US$241,332 at an average price of US$8,45 per kg.
Comparative data from the previous year shows that 133 million kg of tobacco, valued at US$701,1 million, had been sold at an average price of US$5,27 per kg over the same period.
Zimbabwean tobacco remains popular on the international market due to its distinctive flavour.
The Government, in collaboration with the private sector, is working to increase local processing of tobacco to boost export earnings.
Zimbabwe achieved a record tobacco output during the 2025 marketing season, with farmers selling 352,7 million kg worth US$1,2 billion by early August.
This represents a significant 53 percent increase from the previous year’s harvest, underscoring the crop’s importance as the country’s leading foreign currency earner — driven largely by smallholder farmers.
However, experts caution that this success is vulnerable to climate change risks, highlighting the need for investment in irrigation and sustainable farming practices to safeguard future harvests.
Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry is actively mitigating climate risks by transitioning from firewood-based curing to gas-powered systems to reduce deforestation, promoting irrigation to reduce reliance on rainfall, and implementing climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices such as soil health management and drought-tolerant seeds to build resilience and sustainability.
