For the first time, Pakistan has exported finished tobacco products, earning USD 6.2 million, reported pt Profit.

Although the country has exported raw tobacco products in the past, this is the first time it has exported cigarettes, i.e. finished tobacco products. In the past 11 months of FY20, this has earned the country USD 6.28 million. However, gulf countries had placed import orders of cigarettes worth USD 50 million, but exports could not be accelerated as per expectations. This was the country’s first ever major earning from the export of value-added tobacco products.
According to the report, experts believe that this will help the country capture more markets and earn better returns in the future. Last year, the Pakistan Tobacco Company (PTC) received an important order from gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia. A PTC official told pt Profit, “Many cigarette manufacturing plants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were established in 1960s’ and 70s’, following which the importers had asked us to upgrade the quality of tobacco, paper, filters, packaging etc. These requirements have now been met successfully and we are expecting a massive surge in the export of cigarettes to Middle East countries from this year.”
During the past 11 months, Pakistan collectively exported tobacco worth USD 38.1 million. The country currently holds a market share of around USD 25 million in the USD 80 billion trade of world tobacco.