Smallest tobacco floor fetches highest price

Malawi’s smallest tobacco market has recorded the highest average price in the 2026 marketing season, with Limbe fetching US$2.15 per kilogram after 19 weeks of trading.

According to figures released by the Tobacco Commission, Limbe handled 13.27 million kilograms of tobacco, representing just 9.32 percent of the total volume sold across the country’s four tobacco floors.

Despite handling the smallest volume, Limbe recorded the highest average price, well above the national average of US$1.98 per kilogram.

The Tobacco Commission says the higher prices at Limbe are largely linked to the dominance of flue-cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco, a high-value variety that fetched a national average of US$2.64 per kilogram.

In contrast, Lilongwe, which handled the largest volume at 57.42 million kilograms , representing 40.33 percent of national sales, recorded an average price of US$1.97 per kilogram .

The Lilongwe market is largely dominated by Burley tobacco, which fetched lower prices compared to FCV.

Mzuzu also recorded an above-average price, fetching US$2.01 per kilogram from 39.3 million kilograms of tobacco sold, accounting for 27.61 percent of the national volume.

Chinkhoma recorded the lowest average price at US$1.91 per kilogram , despite accounting for 22.74 percent of tobacco sold.

Overall, the figures show that tobacco type and quality remain key drivers of prices across Malawi’s tobacco markets.

Meanwhile , Malawi has sold a total of 142.36 million kilograms of tobacco worth US$282.47 million.

The 2026 Tobacco marketing season is expected to close on September 10 this year.