By Timothy S. Donahue
Top Takeaways:
Market intervention: Zimbabwe’s tobacco regulator ordered licensed merchants to begin purchasing leaf within 14 days.
Weak opening prices: Early auction figures show lower volumes and prices compared with the same period last year.
Competition concerns: Officials say limited buyer participation has contributed to weak pricing at the start of the marketing season.
Zimbabwe’s tobacco regulator has instructed licensed merchants who have not yet entered the 2026 marketing season to start buying tobacco within two weeks, warning that failure to do so could result in regulatory action.
The directive originated from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB), which manages Zimbabwe’s tobacco marketing system. Officials mentioned that several licensed buyers had not yet appeared on auction floors during the early days of the season, raising concerns that limited competition was leading to weaker prices for farmers.
TIMB instructed non-participating merchants to explain their absence and outline planned purchase volumes to help maintain sufficient competition in the market.
“The board has noted with concern that some licensed buyers have not yet participated in the 2026 marketing season,” TIMB said in a statement. “All merchants are expected to commence buying within 14 days and submit their purchase plans to ensure orderly marketing and fair competition.”
Zimbabwe is Africa’s top tobacco producer, and the annual marketing season is closely watched by farmers, merchants, and global leaf buyers.
Early figures from the regulator show that the season has started slowly compared to last year. As of March 5, about 626,742 kilograms of tobacco had been sold for $1.79 million, compared to 1.24 million kilograms worth $4.17 million during the same period in 2025.
Average prices have also declined, dropping to $2.85 per kilogram from $3.35 per kilogram a year earlier.
Only seven of 43 registered buyers were active on auction floors during the opening days of the season, according to officials, prompting some farmers to withhold tobacco bales in hopes that prices will rise as more merchants enter the market.
TIMB officials said the market is still in the early price-discovery phase, and they expect prices to rise once more buyers start competing for leaf.
Industry groups have also called for patience early in the marketing season, pointing out that tobacco prices usually fluctuate in the first weeks before settling.
Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry has expanded steadily in recent years, remaining one of the country’s top agricultural export earners. Most of Zimbabwe’s tobacco is flue-cured leaf used by international cigarette producers.
Government officials say that ensuring strong competition among buyers remains essential for maintaining farmers’ confidence in the marketing system and supporting the industry’s long-term stability.
