Zimbabwe earns US$536m from tobacco exports

Published: 4 hours ago

Zimbabwe has earned US$536 million from the export of 81 million kilogrammes of tobacco year-to-date, reflecting continued growth in the country's tobacco sector and a gradual shift towards value-added and semi-processed exports.

Figures from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) show a significant increase compared to the same period last year, when 49.7 million kilogrammes were exported, generating US$319.2 million.

The data indicates that the Far East remains the largest market for Zimbabwean tobacco, importing 47.9 million kilogrammes worth US$392 million at an average price of US$8.18 per kg.

Africa was the second-largest destination, importing 12.6 million kilogrammes valued at US$64 million, followed by the Middle East with 6 million kilogrammes worth US$18.1 million.

Europe and the European Union collectively imported 11.2 million kilogrammes, valued at about US$52.7 million, while the Americas imported 3.6 million kilogrammes worth US$8.8 million.

TIMB says Zimbabwe continues to export semi-processed tobacco across multiple global markets, including Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, while also gradually expanding domestic cigarette manufacturing and value addition.

Zimbabwe remains one of the world's leading tobacco producers, supported by more than 140 000 farmers across the country. In the 2025 marketing season, the country recorded a historic output of 354.8 million kilogrammes, generating about US$1.2 billion in revenue.

The strong performance was driven by increased smallholder participation, improved output quality and sustained demand from key markets such as China.

For the 2026 season, production is projected to rise further to 400 million kilogrammes, supported by a 15 percent increase in planted area to 164 536 hectares.

Authorities say the long-term goal is to strengthen value addition, improve branding and increase earnings from processed tobacco products rather than relying heavily on raw exports.
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Tags: Tobacco,