Tobacco prices rise as merchants secure bank credit

Tobacco prices are creeping upward on Zimbabwe's auction and contract floors after merchants finally locked down their bank credit lines.

TIMB on the price uptick

• TIMB boss Emmanuel Matsvaire credited more merchant activity.
• Buyers stalled initially over unfinished bank deals.
• Participation picked up roughly a week post-opening.

Auction floor numbers

• Average auction prices climbed to US$1.69 per kilogram.
• The starting point was US$1.60 per kilogram on day one.

Contract floor numbers

• Contract prices bumped up to US$2.78 per kilogram.
• They kicked off at US$2.64 per kilogram initially.

Still trailing last year

• Prices sit roughly 24% below 2025's same-period mark.
• Zimbabwe runs a dual auction-and-contract marketing setup.