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WORLD DEVELOPMENTS
Brazil: Brazilian leaf production is estimated at 539,500 metric tons in 2001, down 49,500 metric tons from last year. The quality of the 2001 crop is considered the best in 15 or 20 years. Leaf prices for the 2001 crop are up by 2 to 7 percent depending on the quality from last season. Total leaf exports for 2001 are projected at 355,000 metric tons, up 4 percent from last year. BR1027
Bulgaria: Oriental leaf production is estimated to increase by 61 percent in 2001 due to changes in the domestic pricing of leaf tobacco and an anticipated trade agreement with the European Union. BU1009
Yugoslavia: Severe economic troubles are causing substantial declines in leaf tobacco production. Leaf tobacco production for 2001 is roughly half of the 1980 level, or 9,200 tons. Cigarette production is estimated at 14,700 billion pieces, roughly 10 percent lower than 1998 because of problems in the manufacturing sector related to unclear ownership issues and problems with privatizing the tobacco industry. SR1002
Zimbabwe Tobacco Auction Update: Zimbabwe’s Tobacco Marketing Board reported that 72.6 million kg of flue-cured tobacco were sold after twelve weeks of the auction season for an average price of U.S.$2.16 per kilogram. This is down nearly 7 percent in volume while the average price is 69 percent higher compared to the same period a year ago. The seasonal rejection rate was 9.5 percent lower than the corresponding period in 2000.
U.S. DEVELOPMENTS
U.S. Flue-Cured Auction Update: Through the fourteenth sale day of the 2001 season, gross flue-cured sales reached 81 million pounds, including contracted sales, at an average price of $1.87 per pound. Based on the effective quota, about 14 percent of the 2001 flue-cured crop has been sold. For complete report go to www.ams.usda.gov/tob/mncs/index.htm.
Last modified: Wednesday, November 26, 2003 |