Zimbabwe Exports Nearly 120 Million Dollars Tobacco in First Eight Months

Source from:  english.people.com.cn Xinhua  09/21/2005

Zimbabwe exported about 38 million kg of tobacco worth 118.9 million US dollars in the first eight months of the year, the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) said on Monday. The TIMB said the 37.7 million kg exported between January and August were 15.7 percent lower than the tobacco exported during the same period last year. The tobacco being exported includes carryovers from last year's crop, which amounted to 68 million kg. The Far East continues to be the major importer of the country's tobacco, taking 13,287 million kg during the period under review, slightly down from last year's 13.314 million kg. The European Union came second with 9.96 million kg, also down 43.6 percent from the 17.65 million kg last year. Exports to Africa increased by 101.3 percent, with the continent coming third after the EU with 7.71 million kg, up from 3.83 million kg imported last year. Tobacco accounts for more than 30 percent of the country's total foreign exchange earnings and last year contributed 140 million dollars to the national coffers. The 2005 tobacco selling season is expected to close on Tuesday. Enditem