A third round out tobacco estimates by the Tobacco Control Commission (TCC) has shown that volumes of burley tobacco produced in the country will drop by 10 million kilogrammes as compared to figures from the second round of estimates.
The latest round of estimates conducted from June 13 to June 24 has revealed that Malawi has produced a total of 165.6 million kilogrammes of burley tobacco as compared to 175.6 million kilogrammes during the second round of estimates.
The third round of estimates has also revealed that the country has produced 2.8 million kilogrammes of dark fired tobacco as compared to a trade requirement of 4.6 million kilogrammes.
Malawi has also produced 21.5 million kilogrammes of flu-cured tobacco as compared to a trade requirement of 21.2 million kilogrammes. TCC Chief Executive Officer, Albert Changaya, confirmed the development but said the authorities are still concerned with the overproduction of the crop this year.
“We still have 33 million kilogrammes of burley tobacco which we need to find a market for,” said Changaya.
Changaya said the commission is still engaging buyers to offload the excess crop.
In addition, Changaya said, TCC is also hunting for more buyers to ensure that all the burley tobacco produced this year is bought.
“We will do everything possible to make sure that all the tobacco produced is bought,” said Changaya.
As at the end of business on Tuesday, a total of 86,864,421 kilogrammes of tobacco had been sold at an average price of $1.54/ kilogramme. As at Tuesday the country had realised a total of US$133.771 million from the green gold.
This year the market has been relatively slow as it has been punctuated by high levels of rejection rates, especially on the auction side of the market as buyers prefer contract tobacco.
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