LIVINGSTONE MARUFU
Zimbabwe’s tobacco export receipts have surged 13% to US$384.10m in the year to date from US$341.28m realised in the prior comparative period on the back of firm prices.
The increase in earnings comes following subdued performance from most African countries due to droughts, resulting in a rise in demand for the golden leaf.
“Currently, Zimbabwe has exported 72.2m kilogrammes at $5.32/kg against 71.1m kg at $4.80/kg in 2022, ” the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) said in a latest sector bulletin.
In 2021, Zimbabwe grossed close to US$1bn after exporting 183.6m kg of tobacco to five continents.
Zimbabwe exported a huge chunk of tobacco to Asian countries followed by the European Union.
Farmers’ organisations expect tobacco prices to be firmer due to high demand.
“For Zimbabwe, all of the above dynamics point to much firmer prices this season. While there may be minimal upward movement in top leaf prices, especially China grades, there will be strong demand for the middle and bottom plant positions,” a representative of all farmers’ unions in Zimbabwe, Bright Bvukumbwe said.
The firming in prices comes as Zimbabwe has surpassed the all-time high record output of 261m kg with more than a month before the selling season comes to an end.
As of Monday this week, tobacco deliveries to the floors increased 54% to 262.66m kg from 170.198m kg on the back of good summer cropping season and increased growers’ expertise.
TIMB chairman Patrick Devenish told Business Times the 2025 target of 300m kg could be reached earlier if the current trend continues.
“We have set a target of 230m kg this year but we are surprised that we have gone past the target with a lot of days to go. We have now reviewed our target to 270m kg, which will be a record in the history of the country’s tobacco growing,” he said.
This year 148,527 farmers grew tobacco, up from 122,841 last year, according to TIMB figures.
Devenish said hectarage also increased to 117, 928 hectares from 110,155.
