By Sonkie Foster Leymanni - Lilongwe. 

Malawi's tobacco industry has recorded a sharp decline in sales and earnings during the 2026 marketing season, with the latest figures showing significant falls compared with the same period last year.

According to the Tobacco Commission's 19-week market update, Malawi has sold 142.4 million kilogrammes of tobacco, generating US$282.5 million in revenue. This compares with 197.2 million kilogrammes sold in the corresponding 2025 period, which generated US$500.4 million.

In an interview with Millennium Online Radio, Tobacco Commission spokesperson Telephorus Chigwenembe said the figures represent a 27.8 percent decline in tobacco volumes and a 43.5 percent drop in earnings.

The average price has also fallen, from US$2.54 per kilogramme in 2025 to US$1.98 per kilogramme this year.

Burley remains the dominant tobacco type, accounting for 88.8 percent of total sales. It fetched an average of US$1.90 per kilogramme, about four percent below the national average. Flue-Cured Virginia accounted for 10.4 percent of the volume and recorded a stronger average price of US$2.64 per kilogramme.

Chigwenembe said the Commission will work to protect the auction marketing system, including by enhancing the traceability of auction tobacco.

"We have rolled out a nationwide Know Your Grower initiative to ensure all tobacco is properly traced, which will make auction tobacco more competitive and will motivate auction farmers," he said.

The Commission says contract farming continued to dominate the market, accounting for more than 93 percent of total tobacco sold during the 19 weeks.

However, rejection remains a concern. The overall rejection rate stood at 9.32 percent, while auction tobacco recorded a significantly higher rejection rate of 50.95 percent.

The Tobacco Commission had projected production of about 197 million kilogrammes before the season opened in April, against estimated demand of 170 million kilogrammes.

Millennium Online Radio - TBR, Moving with Time.