For the second straight year, prices of tobacco leaves have reached unprecedented heights.

Andy Reyes, president of the Philippine Association of Tobacco-based Cooperatives (PATCO), said top grade Virginia “AA” tobacco leaves are now selling at PHP 68 (EUR 1.08) to PHP 80 (EUR 1.27) a kilo compared to PHP 61 to PHP 68 last year. Reyes said other Virginia tobacco grades have posted similar price increases. For Burley, Reyes said the top grade – grade A – is being bought at P 67 a kilo, which is way above the floor price set by the National Tobacco Administration. (sra)