Adverse Weather Hits Philippines Crop Size

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 03/06/2012

The Philippines' National Tobacco Administration (NTA) is expecting leaf production to fall to 78 million kg this year because of adverse weather conditions in Luzon, according to a story by Madelaine Cabrera for Malaya, relayed by the TMA. The crop was said to be down from 79.3 million kg, though it wasn't clear whether this figure represented last year's harvest or an earlier estimate. Philip Morris-Fortune Tobacco buys about 92 per cent of local leaf production, while Universal Leaf Philippines and Trans-Manila Inc buy the remainder. NTA administrator, Edgardo Zaragoza, said domestic leaf comprised slightly more than 50 per cent of the local manufacturing industry's demand. Enditem