The April to June 2023 tobacco dried leaves production grew to 37.05 thousand metric tons. This indicates an increment of 1.9 percent from the 36.38 thousand metric tons output in the same period of 2022.

Other tobacco (Burley) was the most produced variety for the second quarter 2023, which contributed 43.8 percent to the total tobacco production. This was followed by Virginia with 40.8 percent and Native tobacco with 15.4 percent shares.

Ilocos Region was the top producer of tobacco for this quarter with 24.62 thousand metric tons output or 66.4 percent share to the total tobacco production. This was followed by Cagayan Valley with 11.59 thousand metric tons or 31.3 percent share.

The area planted for all tobacco varieties from January to June 2023 increased to 27.00 thousand hectares or by 0.7 percent from the 26.80 thousand hectares area planted in the same period of 2022.