Tobacco exports jump 12% in FY08

Of this (2,03,399 tonnes), unmanufactured (leaf) tobacco export was at 1,74,261 tonne (Rs 1,475.40 crore) and export of tobacco products was 29,138 tonne (Rs 545.53 crore), said J Suresh, chairman, Tobacco Board.

Export of flue-cured virginia (FCV) tobacco jumped 14 per cent at 1,37,539 tonnes (Rs 1,240.20 crore).

Among products, chewing tobacco occupied the top position with an export of 8,383 tonne (Rs 252.05 crore). Cigarettes followed with 5,726 tonne of export at (Rs 143.16 crore).

Nearly 4,695 tonne (Rs 57.67 crore) of cut tobacco was exported along with 9,577 tonne of hookah tobacco paste (Rs 46.78 crore), 624 tonne of beedies (Rs 44.57 crore), and 133 tonne of snuff and other products.

West Europe imported the maximum quantity. Countries from this part of Europe purchased 57,317 tonne of Indian tobacco worth Rs 534.69 crore (33 per cent). South and southeast Asia lifted 44,454 tonne of tobacco and tobacco products worth Rs 377.41 crore (26 per cent), followed by East Europe, which purchased 31,387 tonne worth Rs 242.69 crore (18 per cent).

Africa purchased 19,665 tonne worth Rs 164.22 crore, West Asia 9,698 tonne (Rs 56.97 crore), North and South America 8,456 tonne (Rs 53.18 crore), and Australasia 3,884 tonne (Rs 46.79 crore).

Belgium and Germany led West Europe in buying Indian tobacco with the former buying 22,087 tonnes (Rs 220.67 crore) and the latter 9,898 tonnes (Rs 106.98 crore). The Philippines and DPR Korea came first and second among South and southeast Asian nations. The Philippines imported 12,827 tonnes (Rs 118.61 crore) and Korea 9,344 tonnes (Rs 61.83 crore).

In East Europe, Russia purchased the most totaling 17,431 tonnes (Rs 127.50 crore).

Ukraine took 4,498 tonnes (Rs 28.96 crore). Among African countries, South Africa purchased 7,607 tonnes worth Rs 71.18 crore and Egypt 5,245 tonnes worth Rs 44.11 crore.

The United Arab of Emirates with an import of 3,729 tonnes worth Rs 26.98 crore and Yemen with an import of 3,598 tonnes (Rs 14.57 crore) were the top two in West Asian. Among North and South Americas, Brazil purchased 2,603 tonnes of Indian tobacco worth Rs 26.59 crore and the US 4,765 tonnes (Rs 23.85 crore).