India's tobacco export rises 38 per cent in May

New Delhi, July 5 (PTI) India's tobacco export rose
significantly in value terms by almost 38 per cent to Rs
333.20 crore in May despite a marginal fall in the volume of
shipment, the Tobacco Board has said.

The shipment of tobacco has dipped in volume terms
slightly by three per cent to 19,705 tonnes in May, compared
with 20,318 tonnes in the same period last year. In value
terms, it increased to Rs 333.20 crore from Rs 241.95 crore
during the review period, it said.

"The value of exports has exceeded mainly due to Indian
tobacco being price-competitive in the global market," Board
Chairman J Suresh Babu told PTI.

Currently, the best-quality Indian tobacco leaf is
quoting on average 5-6 dollar per kg in the international
market against 3-4 dollar a kg in the previous year, he said,
adding that export prices are ruling high due to a significant
jump in domestic rates from Rs 85 a kg to Rs 108 a kg in
recent months.

According to official data, about 17,831 tonnes of raw
tobacco leaves and 1,874 tonnes of tobacco products were
shipped in May, this year.

The country's tobacco production is estimated to have
increased to 314 million kg in 2008-09, compared with 252
million kg in the year-ago period. PTI LUX
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