10 World’s Biggest Tobacco Producers

10 World’s Biggest Tobacco Producers

10 World’s Biggest Tobacco Producers– According to FAO Corporate Statistical Database (FAOSTAT) in 2020, there are 10 World’s Biggest Tobacco Producers. These countries are the king of tobacco with thousand of tons of harvested tobacco annually.

10 World’s Biggest Tobacco Producers- King of Tobacco

Based on the Integrated Taxonomic Information System, the tobacco taxonomically can be included in Kingdom: Plantae, Subkingdom: Viridiplantae, Infrakingdom: Streptophyta, Superdivision: Embryophyta, Division: Tracheophyta, Subdivision: Spermatophytina, Class: Magnoliopsida, Superorder: Asteranae, Order: Solanales, Family: Solanaceae, Genus: Nicotiana L., and Species: Nicotiana tabacum L. So, this plant has a close relationship with some popular other plants, namely Solanum tuberosum, Solanum Lycopersicum, Solanum melongena, Solanum nigrum, Solanum torvum, Capsicum annuum.

10 World’s Biggest Tobacco Producers- Statistic of Tobacco by Continent

Statistically, in 2020, based on continent production, there are some areas that become the biggest production of tobacco productions. The total world’s production of tobacco in 2020 reached 5.8 million tons with the world’s harvested area up to 3.2 million hectares. Based on continent production, there are the primary areas of tobacco productions. Asia become the biggest production area with 3.8 million tons, followed by with 1.1 million tons, Africa with 694 thousand tons, Europe with 167 thousand tons.

In the country regions, there are some countries with the biggest production of tobacco in 2020. These countries have huge of harvested tobacco and the biggest consumption of tobacco. Here are 10 World’s Biggest Tobacco Producers in 2020. These data were obtained from The Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database in 2020. Here are 10 World’s Biggest Tobacco Producers in 2020.


The Rank of 10 World’s Biggest Tobacco Producers in 2020

Rank CountryTobacco Production in 2020
(Tons)
1China, mainland2,134,000
2India761,335
3Brazil702,208
4Zimbabwe203,488
5Indonesia199,737
6United States of America176,635
7Mozambique158,532
8Pakistan132,872
9Argentina109,333
10Malawi93,613
Source : Annual Report, 2020

Brief Description of 10 World’s Biggest Tobacco Producers

10 World’s Biggest Tobacco Producers- Brief Description


1. China, mainland         

China become the biggest tobacco producer in 2020. Statistically, the tobacco production of panda’s country reaches 2,1 million tons. Geographically, the tobacco production has been concentrated in a few provinces, namely Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan (including the newly established municipality of Chongqing), and Henan. Statistically, these four provinces contribute nearly 60 percent of national China Tobacco production.


2.India 

India was the second biggest tobacco producer in 2020. In that year, the tobacco production of Mahatma Gandhi’s country reaches 761 thousand tons.  Geographically, there are some states of India that became the biggest area of tobacco production. These areas are Gujarat which can produce 375 thousand tons, followed by Andhra Pradesh with 177 thousand tons, Uttar Pradesh with 119 thousand tons, Karnataka with 65 thousand tons, West Bengal with 26 thousand tons, Telangana with 19 thousand tons, and Bihar with 6 thousand tons.


3. Brazil

Brazil became the third biggest tobacco producer in 2020. In 2020, Brazilians tobacco production up to 702 thousand tons. Geographically, the cultivation and production of tobacco is mainly concentrated in the Northeast area especially in Bahia and Alagoas states and the Southern States are in the Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and Paraná states.


4. Zimbabwe    

Zimbabwe is in the fourth position of tobacco producers in 2020. In that year, the production of tobacco from Samba’s country reaches 203 thousand tons. Genetically, there are three types of tobacco planted in Zimbabwe. These are flue-cured, burley, and oriental tobacco.  Basically, flue-cured is by far the most important and is generally produced in the north and east of Harare. The northern regions cultivated Virginia tobacco. Burley tobacco is cultivated in the northeast and in the Eastern Highlands. 


5. Indonesia     

Indonesia is the next fifth biggest country of tobacco producers. In 2020, the production of Indonesia’s tobacco reaches 199 thousand tons.  Based on the statistical data from the Ministry of Agriculture, in 2019, geographically, there are some provinces in India that became the biggest area of tobacco. these provinces are Jawa Timur with production reaching 160 thousand tons, followed by Jawa Tengah with 55 thousand tons, Nusa Tenggara Barat with 52 thousand tons, and Jawa Barat with 8 thousand tons.


6. United States of America

The United States of America become the sixth biggest producer of the world’s tobacco. Statistically, the production of USA’s Tobacco reaches 176 thousand tons. Geographically, there is some state of main production tobacco in the USA. North Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Ohio are some of the state which has a huge production of tobacco.


7. Mozambique

Mozambique is the seventh biggest tobacco producer in 2020. Statistically, Mozambique’s tobacco production reach 158 thousand tons.  Geographically, there are some provinces in Mozambique that became the central areas of tobacco. These provinces are Tete, Niassa, Nampula, and Zambezia. In this country, tobacco became a strategic commodity that can be exported to other countries, namely Belgium, Turkey, Poland, and Netherland.


8. Pakistan        

Pakistan become the eighth biggest tobacco producer in 2020. Based on FAO Corporate Statistical Database, the production of Pakistan’s tobacco reaches 132 thousand tons. In this country, there are some companies, namely British American Tobacco, Phillip Morris International that market Pakistan cigarettes.


9.Argentina       

Argentina become the ninth biggest tobacco producer in 2020. Based on the FAO Corporate Statistical Database, the production of Tango’s country reaches 109 thousand tons. Geographically, in Argentina, there are some provinces in Argentina that became the main area of Argentina tobacco. These provinces are Jujuy and Salta (in the northwest), and Misiones (in the north-eastern Mesopotamia).


10. Malawi        

Malawi become the 10th biggest tobacco producer in 2020. Based on the FAO Statistical Corporate Database in 2020, the production of Malawi’s tobacco reaches ninety-three thousand tons.  In Malawi, tobacco became the economic driver and some of the production was exported to foreign countries. Malawi tobacco is exported to some regions, namely South America, Eastern Europe and former USSR, West Europe, North America, and Asia.



Bibliography of 10 World’s Biggest Tobacco Producers

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FAOSTAT. 2021. Production of Tobacco, unmanufactured: top ten producers 2020. Accessed via https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL/visualize on December 28th, 2021.

FAO. 2020. Tobacco In The People’s Republic Of China. Accessed via https://www.fao.org/3/y4997e/y4997e0g.htm on December 28th, 2021.

Apeda. 2021. Indian Production of tobacco 2016-2017. Accessed via https://agriexchange.apeda.gov.in/India%20Production/AgriIndia_Productions.aspx?productcode=1001 on December 28th, 2021.

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FAO. Tobacco in Zimbabwe. Accessed via https://www.fao.org/3/y4997e/y4997e0k.htm  on December 28th, 2021. 

Kementan. 2021. Tobacco Production by Province in Indonesia, 2017-2021. Accessed via file:///C:/Users/HP/Downloads/201-Produksi-Tembakau.pdf  on December 28th, 2021.

Worldatlas. 2021. Tobacco Production by State. Accessed via  https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/states-leading-the-way-in-us-tobacco-production.html  on December 28th, 2021.

Nguenha N, Cunguara B, Bialous S, Drope J, Lencucha R. 2021. An Overview of the Policy and Market Landscape of Tobacco Production and Control in Mozambique. Int J Environ Res Public Health 5;18(1):343. Doi: 10.3390/ijerph18010343. PMID: 33466388; PMCID: PMC7795975.

Wikipedia. 2021. The tobacco industry in Argentina. Accessed via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobacco_industry_in_Argentina  on December 28th, 2021.

FAO. Tobacco in Malawi. Accessed via https://www.fao.org/3/y4997e/y4997e0i.htm  on December 28th, 2021.

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