JTI to buy 3.3 million kilos more of tobacco from local farmers

MANILA, Philippines — The local unit of Japan Tobacco International (JTI) will purchase additional tobacco leaves from farmers amid an overproduction of tobacco.

In a statement, JTI Philippines said that it would buy another 3.32 million kilos of green weight tobacco to absorb the excess supply in the market following an overproduction of tobacco in key producing areas.

This represents about two-thirds of the projected overproduction during the season.

“We are glad that we were able to help local tobacco farmers this time. It is the combined responsibility of all parties – the government, industry players and tobacco farmers – to ensure a sustainable tobacco leaf growing industry in the Philippines,” JTI Philippines general manager Alan Jackson said.

“In this regard, we are heartened by the commitment of the NTA to avoid another excess production in the future,” he added.

The National Tobacco Administration (NTA) earlier reported five million kilos in overproduction of flue-cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco leaves. An excess of tobacco output was logged in the provinces of Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Abra and La Union.

The NTA had said that the overproduction was due to tobacco farmers planting traditional tobacco varieties without marketing tie-ups with trading companies, as they anticipated similarly strong demand in 2025.

The estimated surplus was about 27 percent more than the 18.05-million kilo purchase commitment of Virginia tobacco leaves by the trading companies and cigarette manufacturers for the 2026 season.

NTA administrator and CEO Belinda Sanchez said the regulator has committed to ensure that overproduction does not happen in the coming years.

“We have already started strengthening the tobacco contract growing system among local government units, tobacco farmers and the private sectors to prevent a recurrence and ensure the production of high-quality tobacco,” she added.

Sanchez said the NTA would push for a shift from traditional tobacco varieties to early planting of improved Virginia tobacco varieties.