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  • TIMB: Zimbabwe Can Produce 17B Cigarettes

    TIMB: Zimbabwe Can Produce 17B Cigarettes

    Zimbabwe’s Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) said the country has the potential to manufacture 17 billion cigarette sticks, up from its current 4 billion. Since the government crafted the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan (TVCTP) in 2021, the nation’s cigarette manufacturing has increased 10%, but, on the back of a record-setting crop, TIMB says it could be significantly higher.

    “Now that we have reached and exceeded 300 million kgs of tobacco sold in 2025, it’s time to scale up local cigarette manufacturing,” said TIMB. “That’s a massive opportunity, let’s increase capacity utilization, attract new manufacturers and ensure more jobs, more exports and more local wealth creation. We call on interested entrepreneurs to invest in Zimbabwe’s tobacco value chain through partaking in cigarettes manufacture for export, processing and packing machinery, tobacco packaging materials, shisha, and cut tobacco.”  

  • With Record Already Set, Zimbabwe Eyes 400M Kg Milestone

    With Record Already Set, Zimbabwe Eyes 400M Kg Milestone

    Two weeks after topping 300 million kilograms of tobacco output for the first time, officials in Zimbabwe say this year’s crop should top 330 million kg, and that achieving 400 million kg in the future is within reach. According to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board, on June 27, the harvest reached 319.2 million kg.

    Driving the surge is a sharp increase in “smallholder” participation, government-led reforms, and research-driven innovations. More than 127,000 farmers, 85% of them smallholders, are registered this season, which ensures access to inputs, training, and markets.

    Dr. Frank Magama, CEO of Kutsaga, Zimbabwe’s leading tobacco research institute, credited the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan introduced in 2021 for boosting productivity through better farming practices, climate-smart seed varieties, and sustainability initiatives.

    “Over 80% of our crop was produced under contract, ensuring inputs, technical support, and guaranteed markets,” Magama said. “While expansion has occurred, what is more exciting is the productivity increase per unit area. With improved post-harvest handling, energy-efficient barns, and better training, the numbers are speaking for themselves.”

    He also warned, however, of the risks from global oversupply and stressed the importance of environmental compliance to maintain competitiveness.

  • Zimbabwe Tops 300M Kg of Tobacco for First Time

    Zimbabwe Tops 300M Kg of Tobacco for First Time

    Zimbabwe set a new tobacco production record after more than 300 million kg of leaf was sold since the marketing season opened in March, the country’s Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) said yesterday (June 18). The TIMB confirmed that 2023’s record of 296 kg was topped, and that its total value exceeded $1 billion.

    TIMB public affairs officer Chelesani Tsarwe said that while the production milestone reflects resilience and hard work across the value chain, the ideal future is not just about record volumes, but also about increased local processing, enhanced farmer earnings, diversified markets, and environmentally sustainable practices in the tobacco sector.

     “This year’s marketing season has been historic,” she said. “We must shift from volume-driven horizontal growth to value-driven growth.” 

  • Zimbabwe Nearing Record Tobacco Target

    Zimbabwe Nearing Record Tobacco Target

    Zimbabwe is on the brink of a historic tobacco season, with over 280 million kilograms of tobacco sold to date, representing 94% of the national 300 million kg target for 2025. According to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB), the sales have generated $944 million.

    TIMB spokesperson Chelesani Moyo-Tsarwe reported a strong season, highlighting the active participation of over 108,000 growers, a 4.6% increase from last year. With weeks remaining in the marketing season, Zimbabwe is poised to surpass its record.

    “The numbers speak for themselves—our farmers have shown resilience and commitment,” she said.

    Permanent Secretary for Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri, attributed the success to favorable weather, expanded smallholder participation, improved farming techniques, and strong institutional support, particularly through contract farming schemes.

    The average price per kilogram stands at $3.37, slightly down from 2024’s $3.47, but still delivering strong returns for farmers.

  • Zimbabwe Tobacco Production up 21% 

    Zimbabwe Tobacco Production up 21% 

    According to Zimbabwe’s Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB), 220.6 million kg of flue-cured tobacco has been sold for $678.3 million since the marketing season opened March 5, marking a 21% increase from the same period last year.

    The TIMB said 190.3 million kg, worth $641.5 million, had been sold by contract growers, while 10.3 million kg, valued at $36.7 million, was sold through auction floors. The highest price recorded at auction was $4.99 per kg, while contract sales peaked at $6.30 per kg.

    Chelesani Tsarwe, the public affairs officer for TIMB, the decentralization of tobacco production beyond traditional growing provinces would have a substantial impact on the nation’s output.

    “The first sale of Naturally Cured Virginia (NCV) tobacco will take place [May 22] at the Atlas Agri contract floor in Marula, Matabeleland South, and the volumes recorded in Matabeleland are expected to contribute to the national total,” she said. “Efforts are ongoing to enhance transparency and efficiency across the tobacco value chain. TIMB remains committed to ensuring the industry remains viable, inclusive, and globally competitive.”

  • Zimbabwe Posts Single-Day Tobacco Sales Record

    Zimbabwe Posts Single-Day Tobacco Sales Record

    Last Friday (May 9), Zimbabwe set a single-day sales record with 7.2 million kg coming off the auction floor, according to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB). That day also saw a season-high price of $6.20 per kg, significantly better than last year’s best of $5.76.

     “This unprecedented volume reflects the significant progress made by farmers, most of whom have now completed curing and grading,” TIMB said.

    Despite strong sales, around 40% of the crop remains unsold, with many companies still holding substantial volumes, TIMB said. China continues to be the leading importer of Zimbabwean tobacco leaf this year, accounting for 38.8% of total exports since sales began in March.

  • Zimbabwe “Will Reach 280M KG,” Hopes to Process More Domestically

    Zimbabwe “Will Reach 280M KG,” Hopes to Process More Domestically

    Zimbabwe’s 2025 tobacco marketing season is underway, with 85 million kilograms of the crop, valued at $292 million, having gone under the hammer. Farmers are happy but expect prices to continue firming as the season progresses.

    “While the season started slowly, we are witnessing a rise in tobacco deliveries and we are confident we will reach our target of 280 million kg this season,” Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB)’s acting chief executive officer Emmanuel Matsvaire said. “The highest price offered to date has been $6.30/kg, with the average price sitting at $3.43/kg as of April 17. 

    “TIMB is proud to announce a significant milestone in the decentralization of tobacco production in Zimbabwe. For the second consecutive season, tobacco is being successfully grown in Marula, Mangwe district, Matabeleland South. This is an important step in expanding the crop beyond its traditional strongholds in Manicaland and Mashonaland provinces, [with] 122 small-scale farmers growing 84 hectares of Natural Cured Virginia (NCV) tobacco under a contract arrangement with Atlas Agri. The contractor has since established a local tobacco sales floor, which was inspected and approved by TIMB and will operate this marketing season.”

    Despite the overall positives, stakeholders are concerned about side-marketing issues that continue to threaten the industry.

    “Side marketing remains a challenge in the industry,” Matsvaire said. “Some growers sell their tobacco to middlemen, others sell tobacco produced under contract at auction floors using other farmers’ grower numbers. This practice undermines structured markets, while negatively affecting debt and revenue collection, and exposes growers to low value and exploitation.”

    TIMB is also working toward keeping more tobacco processing in the country, as it loses billions of dollars of revenue by exporting semi-processed tobacco. 

    “The target was to increase value addition and beneficiation of tobacco into cut rag and cigarettes production from 2% of total tobacco produced to 30% to increase of exports of cigarettes by 2025, and to date we have achieved 10.15%,” Matsvaire said. “More effort is being put by the government and private partners to increase value addition. Ten cigarette manufacturers with a combined production capacity of around 4.4 billion cigarette sticks per annum are operating in the country.”

  • Zimbabwe: Grower’s Investment in Quality Pays Off

    Zimbabwe: Grower’s Investment in Quality Pays Off

    Thirty days into the marketing season, Zimbabwe’s Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board reminded growers that quality tobacco that is properly grown, cured, conditioned, graded, and baled attracts top prices at the market, and they should handle their tobacco with care at every stage to avoid lamina damage. The board used Pedia Matamisa, a self-financing grower from Murehwa’s Percyvale Farm, as the face of its message.

    Matamisa was a beneficiary of the Land Reform Program under A2 and this year received the highest tobacco price on the auction floor when two of her bales fetched $4.99 per kilogram. Her lowest price was $2.33 per kilogram and she averaged $3.28. She said last year she averaged $1.79.

    Previously using porous, plastic barns to cure, Matamisa said fellow farmers helped her realize that the use of good barns had a bearing on the quality of the leaf and she decided to improve hers. Unable to get a loan, she sold her car to help get the $5,000 she needed to build a “rocket barn.”

    Originally designed in 2008 in Malawi, Kutsaga Research began building the Zimbabwean version of rocket barns in 2011, which not only help provide consistent heat to improve curing quality but also reduce the amount of fuel needed by up to 50%.

    Matamisa also urged other farmers to properly grade their leaves according to size and not mix the short and long ones.

     “I had two bales that were rejected because of these mixing issues,” she said. “Besides the disadvantage of lowering your prices, this also brings additional re-handling costs.”

  • Zimbabwe Tobacco Market Picking Up Steam

    Zimbabwe Tobacco Market Picking Up Steam

    Twenty-three days after Zimbabwe’s tobacco season opened, all parties are reporting to be relatively satisfied with farmers already earning $143 million from 41.6 million kilograms of flue-cured tobacco sold. As is typical for this point in the season, the majority of the tobacco is still in the field, and thus far, the highest-quality product has been scarcely seen.

    According to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB), 39.2 million kg, valued at $135.2 million, had been sold by contracted growers, while 2.4 million kg, worth $7.7 million, had come from self-financed farmers. Last year, farmers sold 56.7 million kg of flue-cured tobacco valued at $200 million.

    The increase in tobacco production has been attributed to viable prices, an organized market, and the availability of funding through contractors and the government.

    The average price at auction was $3.43 per kg, compared to $3.53 last year, but growers are confident that the price will continue to rise as they grade and bail the best of their product.

    “The participation of merchants has really improved,” said Sam Garabha, operations manager for Premier Tobacco Auction Floors. “Our farmers are quite happy and excited with the offers they are receiving at the auction floors, although we expect better quality. During the past week, we were receiving lower and middle grades, but, as the harvest continues, we are noticing significant improvements in prices.”

    Source: “The Sunday Mail”, Harare; 6 Apr 2025

    Farmers pocket US$143m as auction activity picks up
  • Zimbabwe Bans Non-Contract Tobacco 

    Zimbabwe Bans Non-Contract Tobacco 

    With Zimbabwe expecting another banner tobacco crop, the nation’s Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) continues to work toward regulating the market and protecting farmers from unfair prices and practices. TIMB’s latest directive, made just days ahead of the opening of the marketing season, says that all free-funded tobacco must be sold through the auction system this year. 

    Tobacco production is grown under two arrangements in Zimbabwe, namely contract and self-financing. Previously, farmers and merchants were allowed to buy tobacco from self-financing farmers outside the auction system on arranged terms, which distorted auction prices, which in turn distorted prices for future contract tobacco.

    “We challenge all the 55 licensed merchants this season that there is no room to buy free tobacco outside auction floors,” said TIMB chief executive officer Emmanuel Matsvaire, adding they will have a zero-tolerance policy for breaches.

    Earlier this year TIMB introduced a biometric registration system, underscoring the regulatory board’s commitment to combating illicit practices, among them side-marketing.

    Last year, Zimbabwe’s tobacco export surged to 243.4 million kilograms, valued at $1.31 billion, an increase from 2023’s $1.23 billion. More plantings and favorable weather suggest the 2025 season will be even better.