Tanzania ranked 2nd largest producer of Tobacco in Africa

Tanzania is listed as the second-largest producer of tobacco in Africa for the year 2022/2023, Minister for Agriculture Hussein Bashe has said.

Mr Bashe made the statement on his X account (formerly Twitter), adding that the country’s production of the crop has increased from 50,000 tonnes to 122,858 tonnes in 2023/2024.

Furthermore, he said that as of December last year, the export value of tobacco was $316 million, towards the goal of reaching $400 million.

Mr Bashe noted that for the 2024/2025 season, they are optimistic about reaching 200,000 tonnes against the target of 300,000 by 2025/26.

He applauded the farmer associations as well as the tobacco companies in the country, stating that for the first time, more than 50 percent of tobacco has been bought and sold abroad, 100 percent by local companies.

“It was not an easy journey. I thank all the tobacco board staff; we dreamed, we did it, and we keep pushing. We will become Africa’s number one producer,” the minister said.

Largest tobacco producers in Africa

Zimbabwe 296,000 tonnes

Tanzania 122, 858 tonnes
Malawi 121,000 tonnes
Mozambique 65,800 tonnes
Zambia 44,000 tonnes
 Uganda 13, 000 tonnes