2023/2024 TOBACCO SALES STILL LOW

The Tobacco Commission is expressing satisfaction with the progress of the grower registration and licensing exercise, noting a significant increase in interest for the 2024/2025 farming season.

According to TC spokesperson Telephorous Chigwenembe, attractive prices offered during the recently concluded selling season have motivated many to either start growing tobacco or increase their production.

As the selling season ended on Friday, August 2, the Commission had licensed 60.2 million kilograms of tobacco, nearly three times the 21.7 million kilograms licensed by the same time last year.

The number of issued licenses also saw a substantial rise, with 12,778 licenses granted compared to 4,913 last year.

The Commission has set an ambitious target to boost annual tobacco production to 200 million kilograms by 2028.

Despite recent shortfalls in meeting trade demands—selling under 140 million kilograms against a demand of 190 million in the 2023/2024 season—the Commission sees a promising market opportunity for Malawi’s tobacco.