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Tobacco is Malawi's major export commodity and hard currency earner, accounting for over 50 percent of all foreign currency receipts, according to official figures.
In a joint report released at the close of the 2018 season, auctioneer Auction Holdings Limited and the Tobacco Control Commission said revenues for 2018 reached $337.5 million, up from $212.4 million in 2017.
Volumes totalled 202 million kilogrammes, up nearly 90 percent from 2017, but the revenue reaped was hampered by a 16.5 percent fall in prices.
More than 80 percent of all tobacco is produced and sold directly under contract to international tobacco firms.