Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/699960
56 tobaccoasia / Issue 3, 2016 July / August By Nattira Medvedeva Ever since the European Union's decoupling of tobacco subsidies from production in 2006, pro- duction of oriental leaf has continuously declined over the years. It was no different in 2015. Figures given to Tobacco Asia from Nicos Gleoudis Ka- vex S.A., Greece's leading tobacco leaf enterprises and the largest buyer, processor, and exporter of the local oriental tobacco crop, show that 2015 production dropped from 2014 levels in all the main oriental tobacco producing countries, as shown in the charts. "The main cause for this drop was the de- creased prices paid to the growers for the 2014 crop tobaccos due to the lower quality caused by the adverse climatic conditions in the whole region," said Nicos Gleoudis' Costas Gleoudis. "Farmers were disappointed and they planted less acreage. Another reason is the ageing of farmer Oriental Leaf: Here to Stay? Source: Nicos Gleoudis Kavex S.A. 2014 2015 Tons Tons Izmir 49.136 43.563 Samsun 7.844 7.924 Basma 4.161 3.956 Total 61.141 55.443 2014 2015 Tons Tons Basma 14.306 13.212 Katerini 11.115 7.940 Total 25.421 21.152 2014 2015 Tons Tons Yaka 3.892,8 2.149,8 Prilep 20.964,6 16.691,3 Total 24.857 18.840 2014 2015 Tons Tons Krumovgrad 12.800 9.000 North Bulgaria 3.700 2.700 Katerini 400 500 Basma 100 200 Total 17.000 12.400 TURKEY GREECE F.Y.R.O.Macedonia BULGARIA