The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) says Zimbabwe has earned over $156, 7 million from 33,024,569 kilograms of tobacco this year compared to $87,6 million for the same period last year.
Statistics from TIMB for the week ending February 22 shows that the golden leaf has been exported at an average price of $4,75 a kg to 32 countries, compared to $4,68 from 30 countries last year.
TIMB indicated that during the same time last year, the country exported 18,735,008 kg valued $87,6 million at an average price of $4,68 a kg.
So far, South Africa is the largest consumer of tobacco with exports valued at $54,1 million compared to just over $4,9 million for the same period last year.
China is currently Zimbabwe’s second largest market for the gold leaf to despite having the highest price per kilogram at $8,80.
Last year, China was the top market with 46,2 million for Zimbabwe in exports at $6,76 per kg.
The top five consumers are rounded up by Mozambique ($8,05 million in exports), United Arab Emirates ($6,2 million) and Poland ($4,16 million).
The TIMB report also highlighted a marked increase in the number of new growers of the crop for the 2018/2019 season of 23 percent compared to the 2017/2018 season.