Zimbabwe’s tobacco export revenues surpassed one billion dollars this year, driven by higher export volumes and strong demand from the Far East, the crop’s principal destination market. According to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB), the country exported approximately 190 million kilograms valued at one billion dollars, at an average price of $5.28 per kilogram.

The result marks an improvement on the same period last year, when Zimbabwe exported around 154 million kilograms valued at $844 million. TIMB data indicates that the increase in revenues was accompanied by a rise in the volume of tobacco sold on international markets.

Africa was the second-largest destination market by volume, with exports rising from 28.8 million kilograms valued at $136 million last year to 42.3 million kilograms worth $169 million this year. Despite the growth in volumes and revenues, the average price per kilogram fell from $4.72 to $4.00, pointing to a reduction in the value obtained per unit sold in this market.

In the Middle East, the volume of tobacco exported declined marginally, from 22.8 million kilograms valued at $67 million last year to 22.3 million kilograms worth $69 million. However, the average price per kilogram rose from $2.95 to $3.11, offsetting the reduction in volume and contributing to higher revenues in the region.

In the European Union, performance was negative, with exports retreating from 23.5 million kilograms valued at $136 million last year to 19.9 million kilograms worth $93 million. The decline in export volumes was compounded by a fall in the average price per kilogram from $5.99 to $4.68, weighing on revenues from this market.

By contrast, other European markets recorded growth in purchases of Zimbabwean tobacco. Exports increased from nine million kilograms valued at $45 million to 12.5 million kilograms worth $62 million. The average price per kilogram remained broadly stable, edging up from $4.96 to $4.97.

In the Americas, export volumes also rose, climbing from 5.4 million to 8.7 million kilograms. Revenues grew from $21 million to $32 million, despite a slight decline in the average price per kilogram from $3.84 to $3.65.

The data show that the overall growth in Zimbabwe’s tobacco exports was accompanied by divergent performances across individual destination markets.