Prices from$8.00/kgFOB Karachi, indicative
- Minimum order: 1 container (about 20 t)
- Ready to pack and ship
- Sample on request, where lawful
- Export documents supplied
Strip grades, 2026 crop. Every grade is available hand-stemmed or machine-stemmed. Indicative price per kg, FOB Karachi. Confirmed in the written quotation.| Grade | Variety | Nicotine | Sugar | E.V. | Available | Packing | Price / kg | Notes | |
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| NDB | FCV | 2.5% | 9–11% | 1 | 180 t | C48 boxes | 8.95 | Grade 1 equivalent; clean, medium-sweet strip. | Order |
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| TND | FCV | 2.5% | 7% | 2 | 180 t | C48 boxes | 8.10 | Lower sugar, firm body. | Order |
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| MML | FCV | 2.5% | 9–11% | 1 | 200 t | C48 boxes | 8.95 | Balanced sweetness; general blending. | Order |
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| MML high-sugar | FCV | 2.6% | 13–15% | 3 | 50 t | Jute bags | 8.35 | High-sugar strip for sweet and shisha-style blends. | Order |
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| MMO | FCV | 2.5% | 9–11% | 2 | 200 t | C48 boxes | 8.95 | Aromatic strip; cigarette and RYO fillers. | Order |
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| MMO high-sugar | FCV | 2.6% | 13–15% | 4 | 50 t | Jute bags | 8.20 | Highest-sugar strip. | Order |
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| F8 Lemon | FCV | 2.5% | 9–11% | 4 | 140 t | C48 boxes | 8.00 | Lemon-colour grade; value strip. | Order |
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| BITS | FCV | 2.5% | 7% | – | 160 t | C48 boxes | 8.40 | Smaller strip pieces; processing and filler use. | Order |
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| DV-MML-1 | Dark air-cured | 1.1% | 3% | 1 | 180 t | C48 boxes | 8.95 | Low-nicotine DAC strip; mild blends, nicotine extraction base. | Order |
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| DV-MM-1 | Dark air-cured | 1.1% | 3% | 2 | 180 t | C48 boxes | 8.95 | Low-nicotine DAC strip. | Order |
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| WP-4 (Grade 3 equiv.) | Rustica | 1.3% | 5% | – | 180 units | C48 boxes | 8.40 | Nicotiana rustica, sun-cured. | Order |
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Choosing strips
Hand strips or machine strips
Same grades, different process | Hand strips | Machine strips |
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| How the stem comes out | By hand, leaf by leaf | By a mechanical line |
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| Strip size | Larger lamina pieces | More even sizes |
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| Selection | Close visual selection | Standardised output |
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| Best for | Specialised and traditional blends | High-volume manufacturing |
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| More detail | Hand-stemmed | Machine-stemmed |
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What to agree for strips
Strip size, stem tolerance, fines percentage, moisture, grade mix, colour range, packing density and foreign matter are the specifications that matter. Write them into the enquiry and the contract. Moisture is the one to be most careful with, because it drives both shelf life and how much breakage you get at your own cutting stage.
Not what you need? Loose leaf keeps the stem in for in-house processing, and scraps and stems serve reprocessing. Terms: wholesale terms.
Reading the table and choosing a grade
Reading the strips table row by row
The strips table lists every strip lot we offer. Here is what each group means in practice. We deliberately describe the character of each grade here rather than repeating its numbers, so the figures live in one place only.
- NDB and TND (FCV). The drier, firmer strips. A good base for mass-market cigarettes, bidi or any blend where a lower sugar content and a bolder body are wanted.
- MML and MMO (FCV). The balanced, aromatic strips. They carry more sugar than NDB and TND, and suit RYO, sweeter blends and general-purpose blending.
- MML and MMO high-sugar lots. Separate lots with higher sugar, offered in jute bags. These are the sweetest strips we list and are the usual starting point for shisha makers.
- F8 Lemon. A lemon-colour grade, useful where a lighter visual character is wanted at a lower price.
- BITS. Smaller strip pieces, suited to processes that do not need large lamina.
- DV-MML-1 and DV-MM-1 (dark air-cured). Low-nicotine, low-sugar strips for mild blends or where a dark, dry leaf is wanted.
- WP-4 (rustica). A separate species with its own character. See the rustica page.
Choosing a strip grade: three scenarios
A cigarette plant wants a consistent bright base with a reliable burn. It will probably start with a drier grade for body and a balanced grade for sweetness, and will blend them with burley. It will specify strip size, because the cutters are set for it.
A roll-your-own maker cares about taste and a smooth burn. It will probably favour a balanced, aromatic grade, with the amount of sweetness decided by the product’s market. The colour and strip size matter because consumers see them.
A shisha maker wants the highest sugar and a leaf that absorbs liquid. It will start with the high-sugar lots and test them in its own recipe, as described on the shisha page.
Mixed containers
You do not have to fill a container with one grade. Many buyers combine two or three strip grades, or strips and a smaller quantity of another form. The minimum is one container in total, and we confirm availability when you tell us the mix you want. A mixed container is useful for trials, since you can compare grades in the same shipment under the same conditions.
What the table does not tell you
- It does not give the strip size, the stem percentage, the fines or the colour range. Those are agreed per order.
- It does not give the moisture at shipment. Ask for it.
- It does not replace the lot sheet or test result for the lot you are quoted.
- It is not final. Prices and quantities are indicative until confirmed in writing.
Requesting a quote and pricing
How to request a strips quotation
- Choose the grade or grades, or the nicotine and sugar range you want.
- Say hand or machine strips.
- State the quantity, packing form and destination.
- List the specifications that matter: strip size, stem, fines, moisture.
- Ask for a sample from the lot.
The contact form has fields for all of this, and the wholesale terms set out what happens next.
Why hand and machine strips of one grade can share a price
In our current list, hand strips and machine strips of the same grade carry the same indicative price. That may look odd, since hand work costs more labour. The listing reflects how we currently quote, and your quotation sets the price for the form and lot you want. If you want the difference explained for a particular order, ask us; the answer depends on the lot, the volume and the season.
Storage, ordering and quality
Strips in storage
Strips are more processed than loose leaf and usually packed more tightly, in boxes. They are less exposed to air, but they are also more sensitive to moisture inside the box. Keep boxes dry and off the floor, stack them so air can circulate, use the oldest stock first and check a sample periodically. If you hold strips for a long time, record the moisture on arrival and re-check it every few weeks.
How strips are used after you receive them
For most buyers, the next step after receiving strips is conditioning to a working moisture, then cutting or blending. Cut width depends on the product: cigarette tobacco is cut fine and shisha tobacco is cut very fine. The strip size and the fines in the strips both affect how the cut goes, which is another reason to agree them in advance and test them on your equipment.
Order sizes and containers
The minimum is one container. Many buyers fill a container with a single grade; others mix two or three. Where a grade has limited available quantity, a mixed order gives more flexibility. If you want repeat shipments, say so at the start, since it influences which lots we reserve and how we plan the packing.
Questions to ask before you choose a strip grade
- What nicotine and sugar does my recipe need, as a range?
- Do I need the high-sugar lot, or does the standard lot meet the target?
- Which strip size does my cutter need?
- How much stem and fines can I accept?
- What moisture should it arrive at?
- Can I test a sample from the actual lot first?
If you can answer these, your first enquiry will be precise, and so will our first offer.
Strips and your quality system
If your plant has a quality system, treat each lot of strips as an incoming material with its own acceptance criteria. Define the checks on arrival: weight, moisture, strip size, stem, fines, foreign matter, smell. Define what happens when a check fails: hold, test further, reject or accept with a price adjustment. Keep records. A written incoming-material procedure makes disputes easier to resolve and quality easier to defend.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Are these the same grades as loose leaf?
The codes are shared, but strip and loose lots have their own measured values. Read the table for the form you want.
What is the difference between the standard and high-sugar rows?
Some grades are offered as two lots: a standard lot in C48 boxes and a separate high-sugar lot in jute bags. Each has its own nicotine, sugar and price.
Can I mix hand and machine strips in one container?
Yes, within the one-container minimum and subject to availability. Ask for a mixed offer.
Which strip grade is best for a first trial?
Pick the grade closest to your current product and run a small trial. If you are unsure, send us your target nicotine and sugar and we will propose two or three candidates.
Can I mix strip grades in one container?
Yes, within the one-container minimum and subject to availability.
Where can I buy tobacco strips in bulk?
Licensed manufacturers can buy tobacco strips in bulk from JKTabak, a raw leaf exporter with offices in Swabi, Pakistan and Oudenaarde, Belgium. The table above lists eleven strip grades with quantity and price, each available hand-stemmed or machine-stemmed. Press Order on a row, or send details through the
quote page, and we will prepare a written offer.
Where can I buy top quality tobacco strips wholesale?
Top quality starts with clear numbers. At JKTabak every strip grade shows nicotine, sugar, available tonnage and indicative price, and we agree stem, fines and moisture limits in writing before shipping. Our range covers FCV, dark air-cured and Rustica strips. Compare the table, ask for a sample, and see our
wholesale terms.
Who is a trusted exporter of tobacco strips?
Trust comes from transparency and track record, so check both. JKTabak has traded raw tobacco leaf for 20 years, serves only licensed buyers, and publishes grade data and indicative prices openly. We also invite you to test a sample and read our contract specification before committing to a container. More background is on our
tobacco leaf page.
How much do tobacco strips cost per kg?
Indicative strip prices run from $8.00 to $8.95 per kg FOB Karachi across the table, with F8 Lemon cheapest, TND next, and NDB, MML, MMO and the dark air-cured strips at the top. These are indicative and become firm only in the written quotation. The overall range quoted on our site is $8–12 per kg. The
price list carries the detail.
How much does a ton of tobacco strips cost?
Multiply the per-kg figure by 1,000. At our listed rates, a metric ton of strips is indicatively $8,000 to $8,950, FOB Karachi, before freight and import costs. The grade, crop and volume decide the final number, and it is fixed only in the written quotation. Tell us what you need through
our form and we will price it.
What is the minimum order for tobacco strips?
The smallest order is one container, roughly 20 tons. Most strip grades ship in C48 boxes, and the two high-sugar lots in jute bags, with the packing detail given in your quotation. A single container can often be built from more than one grade, so ask us what combination suits your factory before deciding on the quantity.
Can I get a sample of tobacco strips?
Samples are available on request where lawful. Choose the grade from the table, then send your company details and delivery address through the
contact page. We will confirm whether a shipment to your country is permitted. A sample lets you assess strip size, colour, aroma, fines and stem before you commit to a full container.
How are tobacco strips packed and shipped?
Most strip grades are packed in C48 export boxes. The high-sugar MML and MMO lots go in jute bags. Cartons are loaded into a container for shipment from Karachi on FOB terms, which means the quotation covers the goods up to the port and you or your forwarder arrange the sea leg. Our
export and import page walks through the process.
Which tobacco strips are best for cigarettes?
Cigarette makers most often look at NDB, MML and MMO, all FCV with 2.5% nicotine, plus TND when a lower-sugar, firmer body is wanted. NDB and MML offer a clean, balanced base, while MMO adds aroma. The best fit depends on your recipe, so request two or three samples and test them side by side before you pick.
Which tobacco strips are best for roll-your-own tobacco?
MMO is flagged for cigarette and RYO fillers, while MML offers balanced sweetness for general blending. Sweeter RYO styles may also use the high-sugar rows. Choosing hand-stemmed strips gives larger pieces and a cleaner shred, and machine-stemmed gives even sizes for volume. A small sample comparison will quickly show which suits your product.
Which tobacco strips can I use for shisha?
Shisha makers start with the high-sugar rows, MML high-sugar and MMO high-sugar, which carry 13–15% sugar and are offered in jute bags. They are the sweetest strips on the list and suit molasses-based blends. Our
shisha tobacco page gives more detail on base leaf, and a quotation will confirm quantity and price.
Which tobacco strips suit reconstituted sheet or filler?
BITS, the smaller strip pieces, is listed for processing and filler use, at about $8.40 per kg and 160 tons available. For stem-based reconstitution, our
scraps and stems offer long and mixed stem. Strips themselves are generally used as cut-ready lamina, so check your process before choosing between BITS, whole strips and stem material.
Where can I buy cheap tobacco strips in bulk?
F8 Lemon is the lowest-priced strip in the table at about $8.00 per kg, followed by TND at about $8.10 per kg, both indicative FOB Karachi and described as a value strip and a firm, lower-sugar strip respectively. Order a full container to benefit from bulk pricing, and agree stem and moisture in writing so the saving is real.
Ask for a quote on both.
Can I buy tobacco strips from Pakistan for a factory in Europe?
Yes, if your company is licensed to import tobacco in its own country. JKTabak exports from Pakistan and keeps an office in Oudenaarde, Belgium, which makes contact and coordination easier for European buyers. Prices are FOB Karachi, so you plan freight and duties for your destination. See the
export and import page for the steps.
How do I import tobacco strips into my country?
Confirm that your business has the required tobacco licence, learn the customs, excise and labelling rules at your end, and arrange freight and clearance with a broker. JKTabak handles the export side and supplies the agreed export documents. Requirements differ greatly from market to market, so confirm locally first. Our
import guide can serve as a checklist.
What documents come with a tobacco strips shipment?
Export documents are supplied with each order, usually covering the commercial invoice, packing list and shipping papers. If your customs authority asks for a certificate of origin or something else, list it in your enquiry so it is written into the quotation. We do not promise documents that have not been agreed, which keeps expectations on both sides clear.
How do I check moisture and stem content of tobacco strips?
Test moisture with an analyser or oven drying on a sample, and check stem by hand-sorting a weighed portion and dividing the stem weight by the total. Fines are checked by sieving. Moisture is the most important figure because it drives shelf life and breakage at your cutter, so set limits in the contract and test each delivery against them.
Can I buy tobacco strips online?
You can start online, but strips are sold wholesale by written quotation, not by checkout. Select a grade, press Order on its row, and add your volume and destination. We reply with an offer, and the shipment is arranged once you agree. This process is meant for licensed manufacturers, processors and importers, and nobody else.
Which tobacco strips are low in nicotine?
The dark air-cured strips DV-MML-1 and DV-MM-1 carry about 1.1% nicotine and 3% sugar, against 2.5% for the standard FCV rows. They suit mild blends and are also described as a base for nicotine extraction. The WP-4 Rustica strip sits at about 1.3% nicotine. See the
dark air-cured page for more.
Do you sell tobacco strips to individuals or small shops?
No. We sell only to licensed tobacco manufacturers, processors and importers, with a minimum of one container, so small shops and private buyers are not served. If you operate a registered business with the proper licence and need that scale, write to us through the
contact page and we will outline the next steps.
