Tobacco sold at auction through 52 days of the marketing season averaged about one dollar (US) less than leaf sold via contract, according to The Chronicle.

Poor quality and competition from Brazil contributed to a lower overall average price of USD 3.20 per kg (EUR 2.34) compared to USD 3.72 last year, the newspaper said. Volume at 124 kilogrammes is about 27 per cent higher than at the same time last year, the newspaper said, citing data from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board.
Average prices at the three licensed auction houses were USD 2.94, USD 2.70 and USD 2.74, the Zimbabwean newspaper reported. Contract sales at 88 million kg were sold at an average USD 3.78 per kg. The number of registered growers this season at nearly 105,000 is about 15,000 more than last year, The Chronicle said.