The Tobacco Commission (TC) has announced that buying companies have indicated that they are willing to buy 154.3 million kilograms (kgs) during the green gold’s market season next year.

TC chief executive officer Kayisi Sadala confirmed the almost 3% increment, while speaking to the media this week. “The demand for tobacco in the 2019/20 is 154.3 million, which is slightly higher than 149.56 million kg in 2019. However, the commission is negotiating for an increased volume,” sadala said.

According to Sadala, 128.5 million kg of burley tobacco is projected demand, buyers are willing to buy 35.3 million kg through auction against 93.2 million kg under contract.

On the other hand, tobacco worth $194.2 million has been sold so far, made from 131,083,157 kilograms (kg). The earnings are 28% lower than the $271,355,270.10 realised within first 16 weeks of sales last while the sold volume has also gone down by 16% from 155,928,982 kg.

Factors to the slumped numbers are low prices and high rejection rate during the first weeks of the market, among others. Regardless, the anti-smoking lobby instituted by the World Health Organisation [WHO] led to a lowered demand by buyers, affecting leaving 35% oversupply.