Tobacco sales up by 56% this year

By Chisomo Phiri

The Tobacco Commission (TC) says, the country has recorded a 56 percent increase in tobacco revenue growth this year.

The TC chief executive officer Joseph Chidanti Malunga said this at a press briefing in Lilongwe on Tuesday following the closure of the selling season.

Malunga said the country has sold 120.5 million kilogrammes of tobacco this year, earning $283.7 million.

He attributed the development to an increase in the production of the green gold, good prices and increased competition among buyers.

Malunga indicated that, TC is targeting to hit 200 million kilogrammes next year.

Last year, the country’s chief foreign exchange earner generated $182.1 million having sold 85.1 million kilogrammes.