Zimbabwe leaf exports are up on 2014 with 97.3 million kg shipped year to date compared to 88.7 million kg in the same period last year, according to Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board’s (TIMB) latest bulletin, Zimbabwe newspaper The Herald reported.

Earnings on leaf exports this year have hit USD 500 million (EUR 453 million) with the 97.3 million kg selling at an average price of USD 5.13 per kg. The country exported 88.7 million kg in the same period last year at an average price of USD 5.31 earning a total of USD 471 million.
The newspaper reported China has so far imported the lion’s share of 27.8 million kg at an average price of USD 8.24 per kg. Belgium is the second largest buyer importing 13.7 million kg at an average price of USD 4.45 per kg. African nations have so far imported a total of 10.7 million kg at an average price of USD 2.97 per kg.
TIMB said that a total of 57,492 growers have registered for the 2015/16 season compared to 76,545 in 2014 and that seasonal sales for 2015 were 198.7 million kg compared to 216.1 million kg in 2014, The Herald reported.