Flue-cured export earnings up hugely in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s flue-cured exports in January, at 23.5 million kg, were up by 327 percent on those of January 2014, 5.5 million kg, according to a story in the Zimbabwe Herald.

Export prices were said to have averaged $7.70 per kg in January, up from $4.22 per kg during January 2013.

As a result, flue-cured export earnings increased by 680 percent from $23.2 million to $181.7 million.

Zimbabwe’s 2014 flue-cured tobacco marketing season ended with 216.2 million kg having been sold, 30 percent more than was sold during the 2013 season, according to a story in The Herald in September.

Earnings were increased by 12 percent from USS612.1 million to US$685.2 million, but growers had to put up with an average price that was down by 14 percent from US$3.67 per kg to US$3.17 per kg.

One observer claimed in November that Zimbabwe could up its tobacco export earnings to about $6 billion if it made those exports in the form of cigarettes.