Tobacco exports up 2%
| J Suresh Babu, executive director, Tobacco Board, said exports in 2005-06 comprised 1,41,293 tonne of unmanufactured tobacco (leaf) worth Rs 1,016.94 crore (1,38,159 tonne valued at Rs 968.90 crore in 2004-05), and 24,589 tonne of tobacco products worth Rs 387.78 crore (24,774 tonne valued at Rs 393.28 crore in 2004-05). While 1,09,244 tonne flue-cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco (Rs 849.33 crore) formed the biggest component of unmanufactured tobacco, hookah tobacco paste (9,678 tonne) led the exports of tobacco products followed by cigarettes (5,857 tonne). |
| The other tobacco products exported were bidis (650 tonne), chewing tobacco/zarda (5,669 tonne) and cut tobacco 2,638 tonne. Compared with 2004-05, export of tobacco products came down in 2005-06. |
| Indian exporters traded 10,600 tonne of hookah tobacco paste along with 7,190 tonne of cigarettes and 1,062 tonne of bidis in 2004-05, he said. |
| Russia was the highest importer of Indian tobacco in the last financial year. "Russia imported 26,771 tonne tobacco (leaf and products) from India. It was followed by Belgium (15,411 tonne), the UK (7,919 tonne), Vietnam (7,749 tonne), Germany (6,354 tonne) and Yemen (5,885 tonne). |
| Among groups of nations, West Europe, by importing 31 per cent (43,352 tonne) of Indian tobacco, was the highest importer. East Europe, which imported 39,484 tonne (28 per cent), came in second. |
| South Asia and Southeast Asia bought 31,644 tonne (22 per cent), Africa 12,618 tonne, West Asia 7,917 tonne, North and South Americas 4,034 tonne and Austrasia 2,244 tonne. |
| The other countries, which made major tobacco purchases from India were the Netherlands (4,871 tonne), Ukraine (5,823 tonne), Nepal (5,052 tonne), Singapore (4,428 tonne), DPR Korea (5,014 tonne), Egypt (5,807 tonne), France (5,157 tonne) and the US (3,082 tonne). |