Tobacco export earnings slump to US$859,6m

STAFF WRITER
Zimbabwe’s tobacco export earnings fell sharply to US$859,6m during the 2026 marketing season as weaker international prices eroded revenues despite the country recording higher sales volumes.
Latest figures from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) show that Zimbabwe sold 344,2m kilogrammes of tobacco this year, up from 321,4m kilogrammes in 2025, representing a seven percent increase in volumes.
However, the increase in output failed to translate into higher earnings, with the total value of tobacco sales declining by 20 percent from US$1,07bn last year to US$859,6m this season.
The decline was largely driven by lower average prices, which dropped 26 percent to US$2,50 per kilogramme this year from US$3,35 per kilogramme in 2025, highlighting the impact of subdued global tobacco prices on Zimbabwe’s top agricultural export.