In my previous career as a radio and television sports broadcaster, a large portion of my time in preparing to do a broadcast, whether the sport be football, basketball, baseball, etc., was spent gathering statistical information on individuals or teams to include in the broadcasts. So recently, I thought it would be fun to peruse the Internet to find some pipe tobacco statistics and related facts to share that you may find to be of interest. As an example, did you know that it’s not Virginia, Latakia or Perique tobacco that is smoked more than any other type? More Burley is smoked in pipes than any other kind of tobacco. Its popularity is mostly due to its flavorful taste and the fact that it mixes readily with other tobaccos. It is not a connoisseur’s favorite because the taste is so one dimensional, but since so many more pipe smokers purchase aromatics of some sort more than any other blend type, Burley is sought after by almost all blenders because it is used in most aromatic blends.
In the USA, which states produce the most pipe tobacco crops? According to this statistical chart that follows the years 2020, 2021 and 2022, it’s North Carolina. Kentucky runs second and Tennessee and Virginia follow. No surprise here. Tobacco production is mainly concentrated in areas with a mild and sunny climate, which is suitable for cultivating tobacco plants. And all four of those states have a long and storied history regarding tobacco plantations and exceptional varieties of many kinds of leaf grown in those areas.
China is the world’s leading producer of tobacco of all kinds. The tobacco industry in China pays an equivalent of about $141.9 billion in taxes a year. Many provincial governments in China are dependent on the tobacco industry, which provides a major boost to local economies. Chinese tobacco production has doubled in the past decade. It now produces more than 3,150,197 MT (metric tons) of raw tobacco leaves each year.
Brazil checks in at number two and is a leading consumer of tobacco products. To meet both local and international demand for tobacco, Brazil grows massive amounts of the crop each year. Tobacco sustains countless Brazilian farmers. The country produces about 851,000 MT (metric tons) of tobacco every year.
Indonesia is also near the top. Constituting one of the largest industries in the country, the tobacco business in Indonesia sustains very high domestic consumption of cigarettes and other tobacco products. About 65 percent of Indonesian men are smokers, making the country’s population the third largest consumer of tobacco products in the world. Indonesia produces 842,200 MT (metric tons) of tobacco each year.
India started growing tobacco in the 17th century after the Portuguese introduced the plant to that country. And now, Indian tobacco is used in the manufacture of different tobacco products for many countries. India is the third largest producer of tobacco in the world, yielding about 830,000 MT each year.
The U.S.A. is the fifth largest producer of tobacco in the world. The number of tobacco farms in the country has significantly decreased from 18,000 farms in the 1980s to the current 10,000 tobacco farms. Despite the decrease in the amount of agricultural land devoted to tobacco, the United States is still producing 345,837 MT (metric tons) of tobacco each year. Tobacco farming in the U.S. is centered in southern states, including Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina.
Is it legal to grow your own pipe tobacco? The production of all tobacco products in the US is governed by the US Food and Drug Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Only four states currently allow residents to grow tobacco for personal use. Those states are Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia. If you live in one of those states and you wish to grow your own tobacco, you must obtain a Tobacco Growers License from the state government.
How Profitable is Tobacco Farming in the USA? Because the Federal tobacco program limits production and supports prices, tobacco leaf brings much higher returns than most other crop or livestock enterprises. Average returns over cash expenses for growing tobacco exceeds $2,000 per acre.
Which Country Has the Most Smokers? The micro Pacific Ocean island state of Nauru has the highest smoking rate in the world, with 52.1% of the population being smokers. And with a population of just slightly over 10,000 people, this makes the number of smokers quite striking. Nauru’s population by the way, is the smallest in the world. While several factors contribute to the high smoking rate, traditional Polynesian society may be the leading reason for partaking in some sort of smoking, either through pipes or cigarettes. Oddly enough, women smoke more than men in that country.
- Kansas City, MO.
- Columbus, OH.
- Baltimore, MD.
- Philadelphia, PA.
- Milwaukee, WI.
When Were Pipes First Smoked? Archaeological investigation has linked the first smoking pipes, made of copper, to Egypt around 2000 B.C. The pipes were found inside of tombs, next to mummies, though it’s not clear if the pipes were used for religious ceremonies or were recreational.
Have Any Countries Totally Banned Smoking? Bhutan, a Buddhist kingdom on the Himalayas’ eastern edge, has outlawed the sale of tobacco and smoking in all public places. Imprisonment of three to five years is subjected to anyone who is found using or selling tobacco in public in Bhutan, and that’s the minimum sentence! Guess where I am not going to visit on my next vacation?
Safe puffing,
Steve
