Tobacco exports up 11% in Apr-Oct

Tobacco products, however, decline 16% in quantity terms

Tobacco exports from April to October this fiscal (2005-06) touched 97,809 tonne at Rs 774.08 crore ($176.65 million) against 87,739 tonne, worth Rs 746.65 crore ($166.74 million), recorded during the corresponding period last year.

The exports, this fiscal, comprised 85,885 tonne of unmanufactured tobacco worth Rs 601.02 crore (last fiscal 73,545 tonnes valued at Rs 528.86 crore) and 11,924 tonne of tobacco products valued at Rs 173.06 crore (last fiscal 14,193 tonne worth Rs 217.80 crore).

In quantity terms, tobacco exports increased by 11.1 per cent, and value-wise by 4 per cent. P Dayachari, chairman, Tobacco Board, said export of unmanufactured tobacco was up by 17 per cent in terms of quantity and by 14 per cent in terms of monetary value.

West Europe continued to be the largest importer of unmanufactured tobacco with its countries buying 28,226 tonne worth Rs 224.43 crore (24,640 tonne valued at Rs 206.32 crore during the same period last fiscal), followed by East Europe, which imported 23,427 tonne worth Rs 149.96 crore (last financial year 21,850 tonne valued at Rs 134.35 crore).

West Asian countries imported 5,050 tonne of unmanufactured tobacco valued at Rs 29.09 crore (last fiscal 5,578 tonne worth Rs 20.19 crore). South and south-east Asian countries imported 20,897 tonne of tobacco worth Rs 143.83 crore till now against last fiscal's 8,884 tonne worth Rs 67.85 crore.

African countries imported 4,562 tonne worth Rs 33.05 crore (last fiscal 9,418 tonne valued at Rs 77.32 crore), North and South American countries imported 3,006 tonne valued at Rs 12.83 crore (last fiscal 2,808 tonne worth Rs 18.84 crore), and Australia with 717 tonne valued at Rs 7.79 crore (last fiscal 367 tonne worth Rs 18.84 crore) came next on the list.

He said FCV (flue-cured Virginia) tobacco contributed to bulk of exports among all varieties. Foreigners purchased 64,355 tonne of FCV tobacco worth Rs 486 crore from April till October this fiscal against 54,441 tonne (Rs 434.29 crore) during the same period last financial year.

Export of tobacco products, however, declined this year by 16 per cent quantity-wise and 12 per cent value-wise, Dayachari said. Cigarettes weighing 3,059 tonne worth Rs 62.65 crore were exported against last year's 4167 tonne (Rs 90.42 crore).

Also shipped abroad were 387 tonne of beedis valued at Rs 18.91 crore (last fiscal 663 tonne worth Rs 22.63 crore), 4,907 tonne of hookah tobacco valued at Rs 18.40 crore (last fiscal 6,013 tonne valued at Rs 22.49 crore), 2,096 tonne of chewing tobacco valued at Rs 55.51 crore (last fiscal 2,055 tonne valued at Rs 70.61 crore), 1,415 tonne of cut tobacco worth Rs 16.88 crore (1,244 tonnes valued at Rs 10.69 crore), and 60 tonne of snuff worth Rs 68.43 lakh (51 tonne valued at Rs. 94.28 lakh).

Dayachari said the recent heavy rains had damaged tobacco crop in 31,830 hectares out of 73,529 hectares planted, and destroyed 756 curing barns totally and 1,106 partially.

He, however, expressed confidence that despite an estimated 15 per cent loss of crop, farmers would help traders touch the exports target of 1,58,000 tonne valued at Rs 1,280 crore ($288 million) fixed for 2005-06. The target comprised 1,40,000 tonne of unmanufactured tobacco (Rs 980 crore) and 18,000 tonne of tobacco products (Rs 300 crore).