More than 112 million kilogrammes of tobacco had been sold on auction floors in the state of Andhra Pradesh compared to 78 million kg for the comparable time frame last year, The Hindu said in a 4 July story citing Kamala Vardhana Rao, chairman of the India Tobacco Board.

Average price so far this season of INR 98.51 a kg (EUR 1.44) is lower than last year’s INR 107.67, the newspaper said a story on its website. Auctions in Andhra Pradesh should conclude on schedule, before they begin in Karnataka, Rao reportedly said. (pi)