India Expects Increased Leaf Exports

Source from:  tobaccoreporter.com 09/02/2004

The Indian Tobacco Association (ITA) projects the country's tobacco exports will reach 1,450 crore (1 crore =US$220,000) this year, a 25 percent increase over last year's 1,162 crore. Ch Narendranath, ITA president, says Indian tobacco is exported to more than 90 countries, with 40 percent going to Europe and Russia. Narendranath says that conditions are favorable for the Indian tobacco market to grow. "With the governments in Europe removing farm subsidies, the Indian tobacco can now compete with that produced by European farmers. The farmers in the U.S. have reduced cultivation of tobacco due to escalation of input prices. The crop in Zimbabwe is expected to come down further…this year." He says if these scenarios continue, Indian exports could reach 3,000 crore in five years. Enditem