Belgium emerges top Indian tobacco buyer

Belgium took over Russia as the number one importer of Indian tobacco in FY07 last week.

While Belgium lifted 19,186 tonnes of tobacco valued at Rs 197.53 crore against the previous year's (2005-06) 15,411 tonnes (Rs 146.30 crore), Russia purchased 20,748 tonnes worth Rs 140.88 crore in 2006-07 against 27,513 tonnes (Rs 179.30 crore) in 2005-06.

Philippines bagged the third spot buying 9,163 tonnes worth Rs 93.29 crore against 3,270 tonnes at Rs 32.60 crore in 2005-06. The fourth and fifth places were grabbed by Germany with 7,754 tonnes (Rs 79.26 crore) and UK with 7,370 tonnes (Rs 68.25 crore).

Indian Tobacco exports grew 21 per cent in 2006-07 touching 1,79,899 tonnes (worth Rs 1,713.20 crore) in 2006-07 against 1,66,869 tonnes (Rs 1,413.47 crore) in 2005-06.

Tobacco Board Chairman J Suresh Babu said exports comprised 1,52,779 tonnes of processed tobacco leaf (Rs 1,243.11 crore) and 27,120 tonnes of tobacco products (Rs 470.09 crore). Flue cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco formed 1,21,073 tonnes (Rs 1,067.94 crore) of these exports, a 10 per cent increase in quantity and 24 per cent rise in value.

Region-wise, imports from west Europe witnessed a 31 per cent rise. About 14 west European countries imported 47,902 tonnes of Indian tobacco for Rs 446.61 crore, the highest-ever quantity, followed by 15 south and southeast Asian nations who bought 33,232 tonnes for Rs 287.42 crore (an increase of 22 per cent).

Imports from East Europe increased 21 per cent, with about 16 countries lifting 31,909 tonnes (Rs 229.28 crore). Sixteen African countries purchased 20,596 tonnes for Rs 166.20 crore.

Seven West Asian countries lifted tobacco weighing 10,652 tonnes for Rs 51 crore. Seven North and South American nations purchased 6,541 tonnes valued at Rs 40.54 crore. Australia and New Zealand imported 1,947 tonnes of tobacco worth Rs 22.03 crore.

Among the tobacco products, 6,013 tonnes of chewing tobacco/zarada worth Rs 199.40 crore was exported in 2006-07 followed by 6,311 tonnes of cigarettes worth Rs 145.01 crore.

About 4,166 tonnes of cut tobacco (Rs 52.19 crore), 10,023 tonnes of hookah tobacco (Rs 38.47 crore), 516 tonnes of beedies (Rs 33.75 crore), and 91 tonnes of snuff and other tobacco products values at Rs 1.23 crore were also exported.

Exports were the highest in July 2006, with the month witnessing exports of 16,422 tonnes (Rs 131.10 crore), followed by May with 15,596 tonnes (Rs 128.33 crore) and August with 14,749 tonnes (Rs 123.91 crore).

November, February and January recorded the least exports with 8,956 tonnes (Rs 61.75 crore), 8,964 tonnes (Rs 75.65 crore) and 9,099 tonnes (Rs 79.56 crore), respectively.