The Tobacco Marketing Board (TIMB) has announced that the 2023 flue-cured tobacco marketing season auctions will close on 31 July, reports The Herald.

While the auctions will come to an end on 31 July, contract sales will continue. TIMB acting Chief executive officer Mr Emmanuel Matsvaire advised growers to sell their auction tobacco through a mop up sale and said that the final auction clean-up sales will be held on 30 August, according to The Herald.
“After consultations with all stakeholders, the board wishes to advise that the official date of closure for the 2023 auction floors is July 31, 2023. Contract sales will continue to operate until such a time when individual contractors have fully received their tobacco,” said Mr Natsvaire.
The 2023 tobacco marketing season began on 8 March and up to date, 291 million kilos of tobacco have been delivered compared to the 199 million kilos delivered the previous year – an increase of 45 per cent. The sold tobacco translates to USD 882 million compared to the USD 609 million taken last year.