Zimbabwe: Tobacco Deliveries Increase

Source from:  Financial Gazette (Harare) 04/12/2013

FLUE-cured tobacco deliveries by day 36 of the 2013 tobacco marketing season had increased by 25 percent compared to the same period last year, while sales were up by 26 percent.

At least 54 million kilogrammes of tobacco had been sold compared to 44 million kg last year, with the green leaf earning US$203 million, up from US$ 162 million the previous year.

Statistics from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board show that about 82 833 growers have registered for the 2013 season compared to about 58 801 who had registered by the same period last year.

The increase in the number of tobacco growers registering for this year's selling season is expected to push the expected to push this year's output by 18 percent to 170 million kg.

The A1 sector has the largest number of growers with 35 755 farmers, followed by the communal sector with 32 966, small scale commercial with 7 834 and A2 producers 6 278.

Registration of tobacco growers by province shows that Mashonaland province has the highest number of producers at 26 109, Mashonaland West 25 633, Manicaland 15 515, Mashonaland East 14 745, Midlands 448, Masvingo 381 and Matabeleland with two producers.

Seasonal sales indicated that the average price on day 36 was US$3,75 per kg compared to US$3,72 during the same period last year. The sales comprised of 32,4 million kg for contract sales worth US$ 122,5 million and 21,6 million kg worth US$79,7 million.

Tobacco Sales Floor had 8,1 million kg valued at US$30,2 million, followed by Boka Tobacco Auction Floors with 7,9 million kg worth US$28,8 million and Premier Tobacco Floor with 5,7 million kg worth US$ 20,7 million.

At least 715 048 bales were sold, while 37 726 bales had been rejected for various reasons. Enditem