January finish for Karnataka sales

The Tobacco Board of India has reverted to an earlier estimate and again announced that flue-cured auctions in Karnataka are likely to be finished by the end of January, according to a story in the latest issue of the BBM Bommidala Group newsletter.

The Board previously had suggested that the auctions would end in January, but earlier this month changed that estimate to the end of February.

At the time of the latest announcement, growers in Karnataka had sold more than 60 million kg of leaf for an average of Rs137.35. At the same point of last season’s sales, they had sold 50 million kg for an average of Rs121.20 per kg.

Bright grade leaf was selling for about Rs168.00 per kg, while medium grade is fetching about Rs146.00 per kg.

Karnataka is thought to have produced about 100 million kg of flue-cured this year.

Meanwhile, flue-cured tobacco auctions in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh are expected to start on February 15.