The number of contracts with subcontractors is reduced, there is less planted area, there are fewer yields, there is a lower purchase and lower average price in comparison with 2013 – this can be concluded from the analysis of data in the tobacco industry.
The purchase of tobacco for 2014 completed within the legal deadline, 15th of March this year.
– In 2014 were made 34,445 contracts with subcontractors, which is 19 percent less than 2013. 14,030 acres of tobacco were planted, which is 30 percent less than the previous year. 24,857 tons of yield were obtained, which is 20 percent less than 2013, when there were 30,997 tons of tobacco. The whole quantity at an average price of 117.2 denars per kilogram was bought, which is 24 percent lower than the previous 2013 when the price was 152 denars. A total of 73 million euros through the purchase and subsidies was paid for the tobacco – stated Vasko Ristovski from the Chamber of Commerce.
Poor quality of tobacco is due to rains and floods which contributed to a large quantity of moisture in the tobacco. Hence, 20 percent of tobacco was ranged in the fourth worst category.
Last year, areas planted with tobacco in Pelagonija were about 10 percent smaller compared to 2013, and about 15 percent in the eastern region.
