Tobacco export earnings up 14%

LIVINGSTONE MARUFU
Tobacco export earnings increased by 14% to reach US$804.54m in the nine months to September from US$693.42m reported in the prior comparative period, Business Times can report.
This was confirmed by the tobacco sector regulator, the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB).
“The country’s tobacco to over 52 countries was 152.76m kilogrammes earning US$804.54m in the process as at September 27 2024 from 137.804m kg sold during the comparative period last year while grossing US$693.42m in the process,” TIMB said.
The average price per kg rose to US$5.27/kg from US$5.03/kg.
Firming tobacco prices encouraged more farmers to grow the golden leaf this year following a 30% surge in seed sales.
Statistics released by TIMB show that as of September 27 this year, 95 375 growers had registered compared to 69 640 in the comparable period last year.
TIMB public affairs officer Chelesani Tsarwe urged farmers to register early to beat the deadline and lower costs as well.
Sub-section 25 of the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Levy Act (Chapter 18:20) says: “Any person who is not registered and who, by himself/herself or through his agents, grows tobacco shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level five or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or both such fine and such imprisonment.”
Tsarwe said registration provides statistical information about the total number of growers and possible crop output.
“This information is important for planning purposes especially on the number of auction floors, buyers, mobilisation of financial resources to buy the crop and the pricing of the tobacco.
“This information has a direct bearing on the pricing of tobacco,” Tsarwe said.