There is no question about the socioeconomic role of tobacco in South Brazil. Grown in 509 municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná, in the 2023/24 crop year tobacco was produced on 284 thousand hectares, by 133 thousand integrated growers. A universe of approximately 620 thousand people is involved in this production cycle in the rural setting, reaching a gross income of R$ 11.8 billion, according to Afubra. Production reached 606 thousand metric tons – of this total, 43% was produced in Rio Grande do Sul, 30% in Santa Catarina and 27% in Paraná, generating some 40 thousand direct jobs in the companies of the sector based in Brazil.

With such production volumes, Brazil stands out in the global scenario, ranking as second biggest producer and, since 1993, leader in leaf exports in the world. Of the total production, 90% is destined for the international market. Clients from all over the globe – 107 countries – are supplied by Brazilian tobacco. In 2023, the exports of the sector reached 512 thousand metric tons and total revenue of US$ 2.729 billions/FOB.