Prices from$7.00/kgFOB Karachi, indicative
- Minimum order: 1 container (about 20 t)
- Ready to pack and ship
- Sample on request, where lawful
- Export documents supplied
Grades you can order now
| Grade | Form | Nicotine | Sugar | Available | $ / kg | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MMO | Loose leaf | 2.5% | 13–15% | 50 t | 8.10 | Order |
| MML | Loose leaf | 2.5% | 9–11% | 50 t | 8.35 | Order |
| NDB | Loose leaf | 2.5% | 7% | 50 t | 8.20 | Order |
| NDB | Strips | 2.5% | 9–11% | 180 t | 8.95 | Order |
| TND | Strips | 2.5% | 7% | 180 t | 8.10 | Order |
| MML | Strips | 2.5% | 9–11% | 200 t | 8.95 | Order |
Buyer’s guide
Before you order: what to know and what to check.
Understanding raw tobacco leaf
What “raw tobacco leaf” means
People use the phrase for different things. To some it is green leaf straight from the field. To most manufacturers it means cured, unmanufactured leaf: dried, graded and packed, but not yet cut, cased, blended or flavoured. That is what we sell, as whole leaf or as stemmed strips.
If you need uncured green leaf, tell us in your first message. It is a different product with a very different shelf life and shipping profile, and we would rather say no early than sell you the wrong thing.
The curing method decides most of the character
Once leaf is cured it keeps the traits that curing gave it, so the type of tobacco you buy is largely a question of how it was dried.
| Type | How it is cured | What that gives you | Typical use | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FCV / Virginia | Flue-cured: barn heated in stages over several days | Light colour, high sugar, medium nicotine | Cigarettes, RYO, shisha base | FCV leaf |
| Burley | Air-cured in ventilated barns, no heat | Low sugar, usually higher nicotine, absorbs casing | Cigarette, pipe and RYO blends | Burley |
| Oriental | Sun-cured | Small leaf, strong aroma | Aroma component in blends | Oriental |
| Dark air-cured | Air-cured | Dark, full-bodied, low sugar | Chewing, snuff, hand-rolled, cigar filler | Dark air-cured |
| Rustica | Sun-cured | A different species from the others | Specialist blends | Rustica |
| Cigar leaf | Air-cured, then fermented | Wrapper, binder or filler roles | Cigar manufacture | Cigar leaf |
| Shisha base leaf | Mostly flue-cured, high sugar | Sweet, holds moisture and flavour | Molasses tobacco | Shisha leaf |
Forms: how much processing has been done
| Form | What you receive | Pick it if | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loose leaf | Cured leaf, stem still in | you stem, cut and condition in your own plant | Loose leaf |
| Hand-stemmed | Midrib removed by hand | you want bigger lamina pieces and close selection | Hand-stemmed |
| Machine-stemmed | Midrib removed by machine | you run large volumes and want even strip size | Machine-stemmed |
| Strips | Lamina with most stem removed | you want less preparation before cutting | Strips price list |
| Scraps and stems | Small pieces and stem material | you reprocess or make reconstituted sheet | Scraps and stems |
| Blends | Several grades mixed to a target | you need the same mix on every order | Blends |
Grading, chemistry and specifications
How leaf is graded
No single number says whether a lot is good. Graders and buyers look at several things together:
- Stalk position. Leaf from the bottom of the plant (lugs) is thin and light; leaf from the top is heavier and carries more nicotine. Two lots of the same colour can behave very differently for this reason alone.
- Colour and uniformity. Colour is the first thing you see, and the least reliable on its own. What matters is whether it is even across the lot.
- Maturity and cure. Under-ripe or unevenly cured leaf stores badly and tastes harsh when processed.
- Body. Thin, medium or heavy leaf. Different products want different body.
- Condition. Mould, dirt, insect damage, foreign matter, breakage, and leaf that is too dry or too wet.
We describe our own lots by measured values, shown in the loose, strip and scrap tables, rather than by adjectives.
Chemistry, and why a website figure is not a certificate
Depending on the product, a manufacturer may specify nicotine, natural sugars, moisture, chlorides, nitrogen or pH. These vary with variety, soil, weather, stalk position, curing and crop year, so a table on a website describes a lot in general terms and nothing more. If chemistry matters to you, ask for the test result for the lot you are being offered, check that it names that lot, and write an agreed tolerance into the contract. Laboratories commonly follow CORESTA recommended methods for tobacco analysis; ask which method was used.
What to check on a sample
We wrote a short, practical checklist for the hands-on part: how to check a leaf sample before you buy. In brief: smell it, bend it, feel the moisture, open more than one bag, and look for mould, stems and dust.
Write a specification, not “the best tobacco”
Two lots that look the same can behave differently once they are conditioned and cut. A useful enquiry names the tobacco type, the form, a grade or a nicotine and sugar target, moisture, the stem and fines you will accept, the quantity, the destination port and the trade term. If you are not sure how to write one for a blend, read how to specify a leaf blend. Commercial terms, packing and documents are on the wholesale terms page.
A short glossary of leaf terms
Suppliers use a lot of shorthand. These are the terms you will meet on this site and in most quotations.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Lamina | The leafy blade of the tobacco leaf, without the central rib |
| Midrib or stem | The central vein of the leaf, removed in stemmed tobacco |
| Strip | Lamina that has been separated from the midrib |
| Scraps | Small pieces of lamina left over from processing |
| Fines and dust | Very small particles; usually a defect above an agreed limit |
| Lugs, cutters, leaf, tips | The four general positions on the stalk, from bottom to top |
| Cure | The drying process that turns green leaf into a stable product |
| Crop year | The harvest the leaf came from |
| E.V. | Equilibrium value, a moisture-balance indicator used on our lot sheets |
| FOB | Free on board: the seller loads the goods onto the ship; the buyer takes it from there |
| C48 box | The export carton we use for strips and scraps |
| Lot | A defined quantity of leaf of one grade, treated as one unit for sampling and testing |
Getting the buy right: logistics, price and common mistakes
How leaf gets from the field to your factory
- Growing and curing. The grower plants, tends and harvests the crop and cures it in barns.
- Buying and grading. The cured leaf is sorted into grades by colour, size, body and condition.
- Processing. It may be stemmed by hand or machine, re-dried and cooled.
- Packing and storage. Bagged or boxed, labelled by lot, and stored dry until it ships.
- Export. Packed into containers, cleared for export and loaded onto a vessel.
- Import and delivery. Cleared by customs in the destination country and delivered to your plant.
Each stage is a place where quality can be gained or lost, so a good supplier can tell you what happens at each of them. Our processing guide goes through them in detail.
What drives the price of leaf
- Type and grade. Cigar wrapper costs far more than scraps. Sweet, bright FCV usually costs more than a dark filler.
- Form. Stemmed leaf costs more than loose, because more work has been done on it.
- Crop quality and size. A poor season pushes prices up for good leaf.
- Packing and weight per package. Cartons and compressed bales differ in cost and in how much fits in a container.
- Freight and insurance, if you buy delivered rather than FOB. See FOB Karachi explained.
- Currency and shipping markets, which move for reasons outside anyone’s control.
Planning around the crop year
Leaf is labelled by the year it was harvested, and supply is seasonal. A buyer who plans purchases around the crop cycle usually has more choice and less pressure than one who buys late. Ask for the crop year of every lot, and if you need the same specification for a year or more, tell your supplier so lots can be reserved.
Mistakes buyers make
- Comparing prices without checking the form, the term or the crop year.
- Judging a lot by its colour alone.
- Accepting a test result that does not name the lot.
- Not agreeing limits for stem, fines and moisture.
- Ordering a container before testing a sample in the plant.
- Forgetting to check their own import licence and customs classification.
Where to go next
If you know your tobacco type, go to its page: FCV, burley, oriental, shisha, cigar, dark air-cured or rustica. If you know your form, use loose leaf, hand-stemmed, machine-stemmed, strips, scraps or blends.
Tobacco is harmful to health. JKTabak supplies tobacco leaf to licensed commercial buyers only (manufacturers, processors, importers and distributors). The buyer is responsible for confirming that import, purchase and resale of tobacco is lawful in the destination country.
Photos and video from our lots
Pictures and clips of leaf we handle. For current photographs or video of a specific lot, ask us. The full sets are on the gallery and videos pages.
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between whole leaf and stemmed tobacco?
Whole or loose leaf keeps the central stem, so you control sorting, stemming and cutting yourself. Stemmed tobacco has most of the midrib removed by hand or machine, which saves work at your factory and leaves you with strips.
Is raw tobacco leaf the same as green leaf?
Not for us. Our raw leaf is cured and unmanufactured. Uncured green leaf is a different product; ask if you need it.
Which type of leaf should I start with?
Start from your product. FCV for sweetness and a bright smoke, burley for body and flavour-carrying, dark air-cured for chewing, snuff and hand-rolled, oriental for aroma. Then pick the form that fits your equipment.
Can you match a nicotine or sugar level?
We can offer the closest lot we hold. The final values are confirmed by the test result for that lot, not by this website.
How do samples work?
Where it is practical and lawful at your destination, we send a sample from the lot we are quoting and record the lot, weight, date and whether you approve it by eye, by laboratory or both.
Where can I buy bulk tobacco?
Licensed manufacturers, processors and importers can buy bulk tobacco leaf straight from JKTabak, a wholesale exporter of raw, unmanufactured leaf. Orders start at one container, about 20 tons. Pick a type and form on this page, check the price list, then request a quote for your tonnage and destination port.
Where can I buy bulk best quality tobacco?
Start with a written specification instead of a vague request for the best: type, form, grade, nicotine and sugar targets, moisture and tolerance for stem and fines. Buyers who want top quality tobacco leaf in volume send that brief to JKTabak, test a sample from the actual lot, and only then commit to a container.
Where can I buy raw tobacco leaf in bulk for my factory?
Raw cured leaf is sold by the container, so a factory buys it from an exporter rather than a shop. JKTabak ships FCV, burley, oriental, cigar and dark air-cured leaf in loose, stemmed and strip forms from Karachi. Tell us your plant’s process and we will point you to the right wholesale leaf option.
Who is the best supplier of raw tobacco leaf?
No honest website can crown one supplier for every buyer, so judge on facts: lot-specific figures, a sample you can test, clear terms, export paperwork and repeat supply. JKTabak has traded for 20 years, from offices in Swabi and Oudenaarde, and sells only to licensed businesses. Ask us for a sample and compare us directly.
How much does raw tobacco leaf cost per kg?
Our indicative range is about $8–12 per kg, quoted FOB Karachi. Individual grades listed on the price list start lower, and cigar, burley and oriental leaf are priced per enquiry. Form, grade, crop year and packing all move the number, so the written quotation is the only figure you should rely on.
How much does a ton of raw tobacco leaf cost?
Multiply the per-kg figure by 1,000: at about $8 per kg a ton of leaf is roughly $8,000, and the upper end of our range is nearer $12,000. A full container of around 20 tons therefore lands in the low-to-mid six figures in US dollars. These are indicative FOB numbers; your quotation fixes the actual total.
What is the minimum order for raw tobacco leaf?
The smallest order JKTabak accepts is a single container, roughly 20 tons. That keeps freight, export clearance and lot control sensible for both sides. If you would like to test the leaf first, ask for a sample where lawful, then scale to a container once your own process approves it.
Can I buy raw tobacco leaf online?
You can research, compare grades and start the order online, but a wholesale leaf purchase is finalised by written quotation, not a shopping cart. Browse the tables here, send your specification through the contact form, receive a quote and sample, and then pay on the agreed terms. We do not sell to consumers.
Where can I buy tobacco leaf direct from the farm or exporter?
Going to an exporter removes several middlemen between the grower and your plant. JKTabak sources, grades and packs cured leaf in Pakistan and sells it directly to manufacturers, with the stages described in the “field to factory” section above. Direct dealing also means you can ask about the crop year of every lot.
Where can I buy cheap or affordable tobacco leaf wholesale?
Compare cost per usable kilogram, not the lowest sticker price. Scraps and stems are our most economical material, with strips and loose leaf higher up the scale; see tobacco scraps and the price list. Affordable wholesale leaf is a matter of choosing the form that matches your process, then ordering a full container.
Where can I buy tobacco leaf from Pakistan?
JKTabak is based in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where Pakistani leaf is grown, graded and packed, and ships from the port of Karachi. Importers who want leaf of Pakistani origin can buy it from us by the container, with prices on a FOB basis and export documents supplied with the shipment.
Where can I buy tobacco leaf in Europe?
European manufacturers and importers can contact our office in Oudenaarde, Belgium, while the leaf itself is exported from Pakistan. We sell to licensed trade buyers only. Whether you need FCV, burley or oriental, send your specification and port of discharge, and the quotation will show how the shipment is priced and moved.
How is raw tobacco leaf shipped and packed?
Leaf is packed per grade, in jute bags for loose leaf and in C48 boxes for most strips and scraps, then loaded into containers at Karachi. Prices are normally FOB, meaning you or your forwarder arrange the sea freight from there. Keep the bags dry and off the floor when the container arrives.
How do I import raw tobacco leaf into my country?
Importing follows your national rules: check whether you need a tobacco import licence, any excise or customs registration, and a permitted port of entry. Then agree trade terms with the exporter, book freight, and clear customs with the paperwork supplied. Our export and import guide walks through the usual steps.
Is it legal to import raw tobacco leaf?
For licensed manufacturers it generally is, but legality depends entirely on your country. Many places require a licence, tax registration or special permit for unmanufactured tobacco, and some restrict certain origins or forms. Confirm with your customs authority first; we supply export documents and can explain what the shipment contains.
What documents come with a raw tobacco leaf shipment?
Each shipment goes with the export documents needed to clear it from Pakistan, and the exact set is agreed in the written quotation, because destination markets do not all want the same papers. If your customs office requires a specific one, tell us before ordering and we will say whether we are able to provide it.
How do I check the quality of raw tobacco leaf before I buy?
Request a sample drawn from the lot you are buying, then smell it, bend it and check moisture, as set out in our buyer guides. Open more than one bag, look for mould, dirt and stem, and ask for the lot sheet showing nicotine and sugar. A website table describes a type of lot; only the sample proves yours.
Which raw tobacco leaf is best for cigarettes?
Most cigarette blends are built on flue-cured Virginia as the main bright component, with burley for body and sometimes a small share of oriental. The drier, firmer grades such as NDB and TND suit mass-market bases; MML gives a sweeter profile. See the FCV page for the full grade table.
Which tobacco leaf is best for roll-your-own tobacco?
RYO makers usually want balanced leaf that rolls easily and burns steadily, which points to FCV grades such as MML or MMO, often with burley added. Because RYO is cut fine, stemmed strips can save you stem and fines. Test a sample cut to your own width before committing to a container.
Can I buy tobacco leaf from JKTabak as an individual or small shop?
No. JKTabak is a business-to-business exporter and sells only to licensed tobacco manufacturers, processors and importers, starting at one container. We do not serve consumers or retail customers. If you hold the right licences in your country, send the details with your first enquiry through the contact page.