n the last 10 months.
The month of October contributed 5.9 million kg to the total exports, most of which are from last year’s stocks.
Out of the 48.9 million kg, flue-cured accounted for 48.1 million kgs while burley contributed 788,190 kgs.
The exports reflect a 10.7 percent decline from the 54.7 million kgs exported during the same period last year.
The European Union and the rest of Europe led with 20.1 million kgs imports, followed by the Far East with 15 million kgs and Africa, which imported 9.1 million kgs.
The Middle East imported tobacco worth 3.2 million kgs, while Oceania, including Australia and New Zealand, imported 1.2 million kgs. A total of 141,200 kgs were destined for the Americas. The country produced 73.3 million kgs of the golden leaf worth 118 million US dollars during the 2004/2005 season.
Tobacco accounted for 14 percent of the foreign currency the country earned in 2004 and this is expected to increase to 17 percent this year.
Despite a significant decline in production over the years, Zimbabwe’s tobacco remains in demand because of its unparalleled quality.
Production dropped from a peak of 237 million kg in 2000 to 68 million kgs last year owing to factors such as recurrent droughts, shortage of inputs and late plantings.
The crop’s total exports for 2004 amounting to 137 million
Post published in: Economy