Export of unmanufactured tobacco registered a 12 per cent increase and that of tobacco products an 11 per cent increase during April-August 2001 compared with the same period last year.
This is despite the fact that the campaign against the consumption of tobacco on health grounds has been stepped up considerably this year in all the traditional tobacco consuming countries.
According to the Tobacco Board, 37,227 tonne of unmanufactured tobacco valued at $ 60.88 million was exported during April-August this year as against 33,305 tonne valued at $ 49.42 million during the same period last year.
Export of tobacco products was 6,221 tonne valued at $ 102.80 million as against 5,815 tonne valued at $ 16.88 million during the first five months of the last fiscal.
The government has fixed an export target of $ 220 million or Rs 1,030 crore for both unmanufactured ( Rs 800 crore) and tobacco products (Rs 230 crore) for 2001-2002 as against an average export target of Rs 920 crore in the last three years and an actual export of Rs 903.38 crore, unmanufactured - Rs 677.04 crore, and tobacco products - Rs 226.34 crore, during 2000-2001.
Of the unmanufactured tobacco exported, almost 69 per cent formed the prime flue cured virginia (FCV) tobacco grown only in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The marketing season for the FCV tobacco has just commenced in Karnataka and will commence in February in Andhra Pradesh.
Exports in the first five months of the current fiscal is from the stocks on hand and here also, there has been an increase of 28 per cent over the same period last year.
Tobacco Board sources said export of unmanufactured tobacco to Western Europe recorded a substantial increase of 96 per cent over exports in the corresponding period of last year, mainly because of higher indents placed by Germany and Belgium. Exports to Australia have also picked up this year because of shipment of 505 tonne to Australia and 117 tonne to New Zealand. Exports to East Europe
