When the green gold market launched in April, only 3000 bales were sold per day, as traffic on the action floors was also limited following preventative measures against spreading Covid-19. Moving forward, the General Manager for the Auction Holdings Limited (AHL) Graham Kunimba announced that the market is now selling 25 000 bales per day.
Meanwhile, figures from AHL show that the market has so far sold 58.4 million kilograms (kg) as of week nine compared to 65 million kg, which is 4.4% lower than the same period last year. Rejection rate is currently at 51%, higher than 46% registered during the same period last year.
The change in sales quantities follows other changes which have seen the presence of growers on the floors as sales were conducted in the absence of grower representatives, to which they threatened the Tobacco Commission to court. Bowing to pressure, TC allowed them to witness the sales on the floors.