33 lakh kg of tobacco sold at Karnataka auctions

The Tobacco Board sold around 33 lakh kg of Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco at an average of Rs 109.30 a kg at auctions in Karnataka.

According to Mr K.N. Vishakantaiah, Regional Manager, Tobacco Board, this year, prices of tobacco grades are trading higher than last year by Rs 4.25 to Rs 5 a kg.

Arrivals at auction platforms are picking up slowly as farmers are getting active after the holidays.

Initially, only five export houses were participating at the auctions. After the Dasara holidays, 10 to 15 are participating.

“International buyers are expected to inspect the crop and tour the tobacco growing regions in Karnataka in the first week of November,” said Mr Vishakantaiah.

The Tobacco Board sold 31.60 lakh kg at an average of Rs 109.51 a kg by the end of the 18th day of auction – on Monday.

Of the quantity marketed, Bright grades comprised 38.63 per cent and traded at an average of Rs 119.98 a kg. Medium grades were of 56.13 per cent and traded at an average of Rs 105.83 a kg.

The rest were of low grades, which traded at Rs 69.52 a kg.

Following are the platform-wise auction details: Hunsur-3 — 3.63 lakh kg (average price Rs 116.86 a kg); Ramanathpura-1 — 3.48 lakh kg (Rs 105.16); H.D.Kote — 2.47 lakh kg (Rs 106.01); Hunsur-2 — 1.52 lakh kg (Rs 114.18); Periyapatna-2 — 1.94 lakh kg (Rs 110.17); Kampalapura-1 — 2.27 lakh kg (Rs 113.20); Ramanathpura-2 — 2.23 lakh kg (Rs 105.65); Kampalapura-2 — 1.54 lakh kg (Rs 112.13); Hunsur-1 — 1.79 lakh kg (Rs 114.30); Periyapatna-1 — 7.87 lakh kg (Rs 107.28); Periyapatna-3 — 2.81 lakh kg (Rs 107.30).

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