N SUMATRA'S TOBACCO EXPORTS UP 16 PCT

Medan, N Sumatra, Nov 29 (ANTARA) - North Sumatra's tobacco exports this year to September 2009 rose 16.42 percent to US$143.892 million from the same period last year, an official said.

"The growth was fueled by an increase in selling prices and export volume," Head of the North Sumatra Statistics Office Alimuddin Sidabalok said here on Sunday.

The export value rose almost every month, he said.

In September, the export value climbed 71.45 percent to US$21.754 million from a month earlier, he said.

North Sumatra's tobacco exports mostly went to Germany.

Meanwhile, Idayani Pane, acting head of the chemical, agro and forestry product industries at the North Sumatra industry and trade office, said the province is trying to increase tobacco production by distributing high-yielding seeds among tobacco growers.

"Tobacco has been one of the province's export commodities since the colonial rule," Pane said.