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Business Reporter
CHINA has reclaimed its position as Zimbabwe’s top virginia tobacco importer after buying 22,3 million kilogrammes worth $187,6 million at $8,41 a kilogramme since the beginning of the year.

Zimbabwe exports its golden leaf to at least 52 countries dotted across almost every continent.

Latest figures from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board show that Belgium, which had replaced China as the leading importer, is now in second place after taking up 22,1 million kilogrammes worth $104,1 million at $4,70 per kg.

Other top importers include South Africa, which bought 11,2 million kilogrammes for $44,7 million at $3,98 a kg, United Arab Emirates that took up 8,4 million kilogrammes for $25,8 million at $3,08 per kg and Indonesia that paid $24,1 million for 4,02 million kilogrammes at $5,99 per kg.

Most of the tobacco that has been exported is from last year.

During the same time last year, China led the importer’s table after buying 23,3 million kilogrammes for $196,6 million at $8,42 per kg followed by Belgium with 19,6 million kilogrammes for $102,5 million at $5,22 per kg, South Africa 15,2 million kilogrammes for $50,4 million at $3,31 per kg, UAE 5,1 million kilogrammes for 13,4 million at $2,63 per kg and Sudan 4,5 million kilogrammes for $18,4 million at $4,03 per kg.

Total exports since January this year amounted to 91,4 million kilogrammes worth $486,03 at $5,32 per kg.

This was marginally lower compared to the 98,1 million kilogrammes that was sold for $512,3 million kilogrammes at $5,22 per kg during the same period last year.

Zimbabwe’s tobacco crop is highly regarded by most importers all over the world.

Meanwhile, 76 545 growers have so far registered to grow tobacco during the 2014 /15 season, up from 73 547 recorded last week.

Approximately 77 290 growers had registered to grow tobacco during the same period last year. Of these 35 316 growers, who represent 46 percent of all registered growers are communal farmers followed by 28 458 A1 farmers who constitute 37 percent, 6 838 A2 farmers accounting for 9 percent and 5 933 small-scale commercial farmers who constitute 8 percent.

Of the 76 545 registered growers, 15 278 are new growers with the bulk 9 448 coming from communal areas followed by 4 912 from the A1 community, 474 from A2 and 444 from the small-scale commercial farming community.

Most of the new growers 5 513 are from Mashonaland West followed by Mashonaland Central which has 4 261, Mashonaland East 2 596, Manicaland 2 549, Midlands 199, Masvingo 153 and Matabeleland 7.