Virginia
T
he tobacco produced in South Brazil, which corresponds to 97.5% of the
total in the Country destined for the manufacture of cigarettes, mostly
consists of Flue-Cured Virginia, represented by several different cultivars.
In the 2015/16 growing season, its share was approximately 87% of the
total. The production picture is completed with varieties cured natural-
ly in sheds and used in blended cigarettes: Burley, whose share is about 12%, and
Galpão Comum, with a share slightly bigger than 1%.
Flue-Cured Virginia, by the way, has recently expanded its share, now rather sta-
bilized, and tends to firmly keep its forefront position. One of the characteristics that
adds to this trend is that its middle-stalk leaves can be exclusively used for the pro-
duction of cigarettes, without any need for mixtures or other additives, observes
Romeu Schneider, secretary of the Tobacco Growers’ Association of Brazil (Afubra)
and consultant at the Tobacco Sectoral Chamber.
Burley, in turn, plays an important role in the market, as it is a component in the
so-called “American blend”. Although the use of additives in its blend is challenged
by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), waiting for a decision by the Su-
preme Federal Court (SFC), suspended until the judgment onmerits, the expectation
for a ruling in favor of the use of additives. Suffering aminor reduction in recent time,
the perspective is for 12% in the 2016/17 growing season, not to mention the good
prices fetched in the previous year.
Flue-CuredVirginia
accountsfor
approximately87%
ofalltobacco
producedin
Brazilforthe
manufacturing
ofcigarettesand
theperspectiveis
fortheCountry
todefinitely
occupyingthe
leadingpositions
Virginia and Burley are themost common tobacco types produced in the three southern states, and equally re-
sponsible for the biggest total volumes. Rio Grande do Sul accounts for 48.5%of the total crop and of Virginia, with
52.7% of the total Burley, followed by Santa Catarina, with respective shares of 32%, 32.7% and 29.4%, whilst the
State of Paraná is responsible for the rest. Still also part of the statistical figures, with a share just over 1%, there is
the so-called Galpão Comum, produced almost in its entirety in the State of Paraná and utilized in blends.
n
Burley variety, used in blends, represents 12% of what is produced in Brazil
The landof
Inor Ag. Assmann
20
