Tobacco farmers in Zimbabwe have generated more than USD74 million in sales during the first two weeks of the 2026 marketing season, which reached its 11th day on Friday, according to the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board.
Data from the TIMB shows that over 27 million kilogrammes of tobacco have been sold at auction floors so far, marking a substantial 44% increase from the 19 million kilogrammes delivered during the comparable period last year. The surge in volumes comes despite a slower initial start to the season.
The market has begun to stabilise after early price fluctuations, as farmers adjust to prevailing conditions and increase deliveries.
Sam Garaba, a market analyst at Premier Tobacco Auction Floor, noted the positive shift.
“The market has stabilised as farmers are starting to react positively to the market forces, the volumes have started to increase after two weeks of price discovery, so everything is now taking shape and we urge farmers to continue grading their leaf accordingly and deliver on time,” Garaba said.
Farmers have voiced cautious optimism amid the improving trends.
“We are confident that with the current situation, we are getting there where every farmer will get a fair price for their leaf, although prices were very low at the beginning, they are firming now,” one farmer told reporters.
Another grower, who delivered his crop earlier in the week after monitoring trends, expressed similar hope.
“I have brought my tobacco for sale on Monday after studying the market, so I believe I will get a good price considering what is prevailing now,” he said.
The current average price stands at USD2.71 per kilogramme, a decline from USD3.50 recorded in the same early period of the prior season. The drop reflects broader international market pressures, including global supply dynamics affecting commodity prices.
Despite the softer pricing, the total value of sales has climbed 12% to more than USD74 million, compared with USD66 million at this stage last year. The higher volumes have offset lower per-kilogramme returns, underscoring the sector’s resilience and the critical role of smallholder farmers in driving deliveries.
