The National Tobacco Administration (NTA) said it has secured the commitment of traders and cigarette manufacturers to purchase all flue-cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco leaves produced this season to prevent a buying freeze amid oversupply concerns.
The agency projected an excess of about five million kilos of FCV tobacco from the Ilocos Region and Abra, exceeding the 18.05-million-kilo buying commitment by around 27 percent.
NTA Administrator Belinda Sanchez said the agreement was necessary to avoid a “stop-buying” scenario that could hurt farmers’ incomes.
Following negotiations, traders and firms agreed to buy the entire local output at government-approved floor prices ranging from ₱62 to ₱98 per kilo, depending on quality.
The highest current buying price for premium FCV tobacco has reached ₱105 per kilo, lower than last year’s peak of ₱130 per kilo.
Source: PhilNews24 | May 28, 2026
