omNM lOUQCO 



IN THE CHANeiN6 WORLD 

 )F TOBACCOS 



BY: ALBERT DAVIS, TOBACCO DIVISION 



Three countries export most of the oriental tobacco 

 entering international trade. The United States is the 

 world's leading importer, despite the fact that it is also 

 the world's largest producer and exporter of nonoriental 

 tobacco. Most U.S. tobaccos are currently in surplus 

 supply; however, U.S. cigarette manufacturers need 

 an estimated 5 to 6 percent of oriental-type tobacco in 

 their American-blend cigarettes. 



The steady growth in U.S. manufacture of American- 

 blend cigarettes for the domestic market and for 

 export has been reflected in increasing U.S. use of 

 oriental-type tobaccos, and in rising imports. (U.S. 

 manufacturers have also influenced the use of oriental 

 in other countries through the popularity of American- 

 blend cigarettes abroad.) 



The United States does not produce oriental tobacco; 



hence, U.S. imports of this type of tobacco have kept 

 pace with increased use, as indicated: 



Average: 1,000 lb. 



1935-39 ___! 46.634 



1940-44 48,424 



1945-49 58,488 



1950-54 76,435 



1955-59 95,868 



Annual: 



1960 118,718 



1961 125,680 



1962 127,176 



1963 1128,988 



1964 1118,800 



1 Preliminary. The smaller preliminary figure for U.S. 

 imports in 1964 could possibly be explained partly by 

 unusually low clearances through "bond" in December 

 1964 and abnormally high clearances in January 1965. 



Production 



Total production of oriental-type tobaccos, commonly 

 called "Turkish" tobacco, in countries of the world has 

 followed a general upward trend for 15 years. There 

 have been temporary setbacks in several countries 

 because of "blue-mold", mostly in 1962. Production 

 estimates for 1964 indicate a record high, however. 

 Some of the factors which probably contributed to 

 increases in 1963 and 1964 were a desire to recoup 

 blue-mold losses, desire to earn foreign exchange, and 



an upturn in domestic needs in some producing 

 countries. 



Several of these producing countries also grow some 

 semi-oriental tobacco. Compared with oriental, the 

 semi-oriental tobaccos develop heavier stalks and 

 larger leaves, and give somewhat higher yields. (It has 

 been difficult to get firm production data for oriental 

 tobacco, as distinguished from semi-oriental, from some 

 of those countries which grow both.) 





