The country’s tobacco export rose by 84.39 per cent in July-May, as it made inroads in the developed world thanks to its finer quality and major cuts in farm subsidies in the west, officials say.

Local manufacturers exported tobacco worth USD 36.68 million in the first eleven months of the fiscal year, up from 27.11 per cent from the target. Tobacco export target for the current fiscal year is USD 31.33 million, according to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). Bangladesh exported USD 22.38 million in 2007-08 fiscal, leading tobacco producers said.
British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATBC), Abul Khair Tobacco, Dhaka Tobacco, Nasir Tobacco and Global Tobacco are the major export players with Kushtia, Rangpur and Chittagong and Chittagong Hill Tracts as major growing zones.
"Our tobacco export is expanding fast due to its finer quality. Our farmers in the northern and western regions produce some of the best quality Burley and Virginia tobacco," said a senior official of Abul Khair Tobacco. "It is the main cash crop in the northern region and helping reduce poverty in Monga-prone areas," he said.
He said global export market structure of raw tobacco is changing fast due to the reduction of farm subsidy in the developed countries, putting countries like Bangladesh at a much advantageous position. (sra)