|
|
|
|
|
|
SPECIAL REPORT
U.S. TOBACCO LEAF AND PRODUCTS TRADE
Calendar Years 1990 Through 1997
The United States exported 221,510 metric tons of unmanufactured tobacco in 1997, valued at $1.55 billion. This represents a slight decrease in quantity, but an increase in value of nearly 12 percent from 1996. Decreased shipments to the European Union, particularly the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, accounted for much of the decrease. Exports to Malaysia, Thailand, and Taiwan improved in 1997, while shipments to Japan were lower. The United States' leading unmanufactured tobacco export markets in 1997 were: the European Union, with sales 102,037 tons (down 4 percent); Japan, 36,517 tons (down 9 percent); Turkey, 19,124 tons (up nearly 20 percent); Thailand, 9,794 tons (up 35 percent); Malaysia, 8,867 tons (up 33 percent); the Republic of Korea, 7,086 tons (up nearly 8 percent); Taiwan, 5,416 tons (up nearly 29 percent); and the Dominican Republic, 4,276 tons (up 59.3 percent).
Flue-cured and burley tobaccos, along with stems, account for nearly 90 percent of the U.S. unmanufactured tobacco exports. In 1997, flue-cured exports totaled 116,458 tons, valued at $832.3 million. This represents an increase of 3 percent in quantity, and 6 percent in value from 1996. U.S. burley exports reached 56,803 tons, valued at $454.8 million, up 9 percent in quantity, and up nearly 20 percent in value. U.S. tobacco stem exports in 1997 totaled 24,879 tons, valued at $23.8 million, down 27 percent in quantity, and down 31 percent in value.
U.S. cigarette exports in 1997 reached 217 billion pieces, valued at $4.40 billion, down 11 percent in quantity and down nearly 7 percent in value from 1996. The leading U.S. cigarette export markets in 1997 were: Japan, 67.6 billion pieces (down slightly from 1996); the European Union, 50.2 billion pieces (down 29 percent); Cyprus, 9.94 billion pieces (up 5 percent); Lebanon, 10.3 billion pieces (down 12 percent); the Russian Federation, 10.2 billion pieces (down 40 percent); Saudi Arabia, 9.34 billion pieces (up slightly); the Republic of Korea, 7.23 billion pieces (up 15 percent); Singapore, 5.91 billion pieces (down 26 percent); and Turkey, 5.85 billion pieces ( up nearly two-fold from 1996).
Flue-cured, burley and oriental tobaccos (including stems) combined account for nearly 68 percent of U.S. unmanufactured tobacco imports for consumption. U.S. imports of flue-cured tobacco totaled 64,717 tons, valued at $276.4 million, up 9 percent in quantity and up 18 percent in value from 1996. Burley imports in 1997 totaled 61,358 tons, valued at $244.9 million, up 9 percent in quantity and up 17 percent in value from 1996. U.S. imports of stems and scraps tobacco in 1997 total 39,534 tons, valued at $26.4 million, down 36 percent in quantity and down slightly in value from 1996. The United States also imports a considerable amount of Oriental tobaccos which along with flue-cured and burley account for most of the tobacco in the American-blend cigarette. Imports of oriental tobacco reached 86,311 tons, valued at $401.5 million in 1997, down 8 percent in quantity and up 9 percent in value when compared to 1996. The leading suppliers to the U.S. of unmanufactured tobacco imports for consumption in 1997 were: Turkey, 76,612 tons (up 5 percent); Brazil, 64,145 tons (down 22 percent); Argentina, 25,589 tons (up 10 percent); Malawi, 22,921 tons (up 31 percent); the European Union, 23,967 tons (up slightly); Greece, 14,579 tons (up 8 percent); Indonesia, 12,056 tons ( up 77 percent); and Thailand, 10,998 tons (down 25 percent).
Prepared by: Pete W. Burr, and Arnella Trent, Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA, (202)720-9496
|
|