Leaf sold at auction dropped 2.4 per cent to USD 2.39 (EUR 1.91) per kilogramme in the week ended 22 June, possibly based on low quality due to poor handling and conditioning, Auction Holdings said.

Cumulative average auction price for all varieties at USD 2.13 per kg in week 13 (ended 22 June) was three cents more than the week before, and remains well above the USD 1 average for the same period one year ago, Auction Holdings said in a 26 June statement. The rejection rate remains comparatively low at 1 per cent. As of 22 June, 56 million kg of tobacco had been sold, yielding USD 120 million. (ci)