Oxman
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My tobacco world – World tobacco production (2013)
I had the good fortune to work in the industry for 7 years. I just wanted to share a bit of info with the brothers. This will be the first of several articles and although some of you may have already seen them, I hope they are of interest to the rest of you!
(Tobacco flower)
20130302-IMG_1614 by oxmanonline, on Flickr
Flue Cured Virginia:
Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) is commercially grown in over 30 countries across the world. This is the most popular type of tobacco grown, by volume and use with a world production of approx 4,750 million kg.
IMG-20130301-00056 by oxmanonline, on Flickr
China is by far the biggest producer in the world growing 2,500 million kg. The majority of this is for domestic consumption with only about 150 million kg exported.
The state of Yunnan, in China, produces more FCV than any country!
The next biggest producers are: (in million kg)
Brazil 630
India 276
U.S.A 230
Zimbabwe 165
Tanzania 125
Bangladesh 95
Argentina 85
Indonesia 48
Philippines 47
Italy 35
Zambia 30
Canada 27
Spain 27
Malawi 12
FCV is the biggest component in virtually all cigarettes. Of course a very small amount (by comparison) is also used pipe tobacco and other smokeless tobacco products.
Burley:
Burley is grown in a smaller number of countries with estimated world production being 720 million kg.
IMG-20130306-00162 by oxmanonline, on Flickr
The biggest burley producer is Malawi with an annual production of about 160 million kg. The production volumes are very volatile as there tends to be a rollercoaster of oversupply and undersupply across the globe!
The next biggest producers are: (in millions of kg)
U.S.A 91
Brazil 90
Mozambique 65
Argentina 38
PR China 37
Thailand 32
Bangladesh 20
India 17
Philippines 17
Italy 16
Guatemala 15
Uganda 15
Zambia 12
Mexico 10
Burley is of course another key component of ‘American blended’ cigarettes. Burley is very good at soaking up casings which are added as flavour enhancers, but recent FDA rulings on additives to tobacco may mean that filler styles of burley will not be required for this anymore. (‘English blended’ cigarettes are made from a blend of Virginia tobaccos alone).
Oriental:
World oriental production is about 235 million kg. This includes both traditional and semi- oriental crops (larger leaf, less flavour, more of a filler product).
Oriental curing - Albania by oxmanonline, on Flickr
Turkey currently produces the biggest volume at 55 million kg, the vast majority of this is grown in the Izmir region.
The next biggest producers are:
Macedonia 24
Greece 19
Bulgaria 18
Thailand 10
India 2
The Ex Soviet states produce a combined volume of about 45 million kg.
Oriental is grown throughout the Mediterranean region but can also be found growing in other areas such as China or Brazil.
Oriental production is also very subject to volume fluctuations due to over or under supply issues.
Dark Air Cured:
World production is at a record low at the moment at 122 million kg.
The primary producers are: Brazil, Dominican Republic, Philippines and Indonesia with smaller volumes also produced in: Colombia, Cuba, Paraguay, South Africa, and the United States.
DAC cigar filler by oxmanonline, on Flickr
The primary use for this product is the production of cigars with smokeless products taking most of the remainder. It is a distinct possibility that dark tobaccos may become more popular as part of a future ‘American blend’ cigarette to add flavour when casings are banned.
Dark Fire Cured:
World production is approximately 50 million kg. Primarily used in pipe tobacco, smokeless products and some cigars. Italy produces a range of cigars that only contain Dark Fired tobacco.
IMG-20130306-00140 by oxmanonline, on Flickr
The primary producers are: USA, Indonesia, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Zambia with some also produced in Italy and Canada.
Above are the most popular tobacco types by volume, but there are a huge number of other regional types or variations grown that may end up in specialist tobacco products, such as Latakia (Dark Fired Oriental) or Thuoc Lao in Vietnam, HDBRG in India or Jatim in Indonesia.
I had the good fortune to work in the industry for 7 years. I just wanted to share a bit of info with the brothers. This will be the first of several articles and although some of you may have already seen them, I hope they are of interest to the rest of you!
(Tobacco flower)
20130302-IMG_1614 by oxmanonline, on Flickr
Flue Cured Virginia:
Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) is commercially grown in over 30 countries across the world. This is the most popular type of tobacco grown, by volume and use with a world production of approx 4,750 million kg.
IMG-20130301-00056 by oxmanonline, on Flickr
China is by far the biggest producer in the world growing 2,500 million kg. The majority of this is for domestic consumption with only about 150 million kg exported.
The state of Yunnan, in China, produces more FCV than any country!
The next biggest producers are: (in million kg)
Brazil 630
India 276
U.S.A 230
Zimbabwe 165
Tanzania 125
Bangladesh 95
Argentina 85
Indonesia 48
Philippines 47
Italy 35
Zambia 30
Canada 27
Spain 27
Malawi 12
FCV is the biggest component in virtually all cigarettes. Of course a very small amount (by comparison) is also used pipe tobacco and other smokeless tobacco products.
Burley:
Burley is grown in a smaller number of countries with estimated world production being 720 million kg.
IMG-20130306-00162 by oxmanonline, on Flickr
The biggest burley producer is Malawi with an annual production of about 160 million kg. The production volumes are very volatile as there tends to be a rollercoaster of oversupply and undersupply across the globe!
The next biggest producers are: (in millions of kg)
U.S.A 91
Brazil 90
Mozambique 65
Argentina 38
PR China 37
Thailand 32
Bangladesh 20
India 17
Philippines 17
Italy 16
Guatemala 15
Uganda 15
Zambia 12
Mexico 10
Burley is of course another key component of ‘American blended’ cigarettes. Burley is very good at soaking up casings which are added as flavour enhancers, but recent FDA rulings on additives to tobacco may mean that filler styles of burley will not be required for this anymore. (‘English blended’ cigarettes are made from a blend of Virginia tobaccos alone).
Oriental:
World oriental production is about 235 million kg. This includes both traditional and semi- oriental crops (larger leaf, less flavour, more of a filler product).
Oriental curing - Albania by oxmanonline, on Flickr
Turkey currently produces the biggest volume at 55 million kg, the vast majority of this is grown in the Izmir region.
The next biggest producers are:
Macedonia 24
Greece 19
Bulgaria 18
Thailand 10
India 2
The Ex Soviet states produce a combined volume of about 45 million kg.
Oriental is grown throughout the Mediterranean region but can also be found growing in other areas such as China or Brazil.
Oriental production is also very subject to volume fluctuations due to over or under supply issues.
Dark Air Cured:
World production is at a record low at the moment at 122 million kg.
The primary producers are: Brazil, Dominican Republic, Philippines and Indonesia with smaller volumes also produced in: Colombia, Cuba, Paraguay, South Africa, and the United States.
DAC cigar filler by oxmanonline, on Flickr
The primary use for this product is the production of cigars with smokeless products taking most of the remainder. It is a distinct possibility that dark tobaccos may become more popular as part of a future ‘American blend’ cigarette to add flavour when casings are banned.
Dark Fire Cured:
World production is approximately 50 million kg. Primarily used in pipe tobacco, smokeless products and some cigars. Italy produces a range of cigars that only contain Dark Fired tobacco.
IMG-20130306-00140 by oxmanonline, on Flickr
The primary producers are: USA, Indonesia, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Zambia with some also produced in Italy and Canada.
Above are the most popular tobacco types by volume, but there are a huge number of other regional types or variations grown that may end up in specialist tobacco products, such as Latakia (Dark Fired Oriental) or Thuoc Lao in Vietnam, HDBRG in India or Jatim in Indonesia.
