LILONGWE, July 29 (Xinhua) -- Malawi's Tobacco Commission has said that the country expects "more tobacco, more revenue" in 2025 as the leaf has raked in 441.1 million U.S. dollars over 16 weeks ending on July 25, higher than the previous year's 395 million U.S. dollars recorded during the same period.
Telephorus Chigwenembe, spokesperson for the commission, told Xinhua on Monday that the 2025 tobacco selling season will, by far, be more successful than the 2024 season in terms of both volume and revenue.
He said that during the 2024 selling season, which lasted 16 weeks, a total of 133 million kg was sold, generating 395 million U.S. dollars, while this year has seen a total of 172.9 million kg of tobacco sold, with 441.1 million U.S. dollars as proceeds.
According to Chigwenembe, tobacco continues to flow to the country's auction floors, signifying that the 2025 selling season will be longer than last year's.
"The trade demand at the beginning of the selling season was recorded as 213 million kg," he said, adding that the commission "is confident that its goal to lead the country to a national production of 200 million kg per year by 2030 will be achieved."
The average price for the green gold in the 2025 market season in Malawi has been 2.55 U.S. dollars per kg, according to the spokesperson. ■
