THE YUGOSLAV TOBACCO INDUSTRY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700110673-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: R
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 15, 2011
• Sequence Number: 673
• Publication Date: July 6, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

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COUNTRY
SUBJECT
HOW
PUBLISHED
WHERE
PUBLISHED
DATE
PUBLISHED
LANGUAGE
CLASSIFICATION RESTRICTED
CENTRAL INTELLIGENC GENCYION
INFORMATION FROM
FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS
Economic - Tobacco industry
Handbook
Belgrade
1952
Serbian
REPORT
CD NO.
DATE OF
DATE DIST. 6 Jul 1953
NO. OF PAGES 8
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
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Informativni prirucnik o Jugoslaviji, Book 2, Section 1-3, 1952.
THE YUGOSLAV TOBACCO INDUSTRY
[The following report is based on an article in Informativni
prirucnik o Jugoslaviji, a handbook published in sections since
late 19 by the Yugoslav Directorate for Information.?
Tobacco cultivation and production rank among the most important economic
branches in Yugoslavia. More than one million people are engaged in tobacco
planting, cultivation, manufacturing, and trade. Tobacco is one of Yugoslavia's
most important exports; its quality is known as one of the world's best.
Only 32,000 hectares of the total land area are used for tobacco cultivation.
The largest area planted in tobacco is in Macedonia and the smallest is in Mon-
tenegro. In Serbia, about 8,200 hectares are planted in tobacco; in Croatia,
about 1,800 hectares; in Bosnia-Hercegovina, about 6,700 hectares; in Macedonia,
about 14,000 hectares; and in Montenegro, about 1,500 hectares.
The large assortment of domestic tobaccos enabled the Yugoslav tobacco in-
dustry to produce almost all types of tobacco products, from snuff and raw nico-
tine to the most expensive cigarettes. The only raw material the Yugoslav in-
dh4~ry does not obtain from domestic production are such famous tobaccos as
those from Sumatra, Java, and Havana for the production of de luxe cigars.
There are four extensive tobacco production areas in Yugoslavia.
1. The area of Turkish tobaccos of the Macedonian type, represented by the
Ksanti-Jaka (Skece), Prilep, Otlja, Blatac, and Mulaip (Proscan) tobaccos, in-
cludes not only Macedonia, but also southern Serbia.
STATE INAI
ARMY AIR
STAT
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2. The area of large-leaf tobaccos of the Hercegovinian type, which in-
cludes the Ravnjak and Tance tobaccos extends mostly through Hercegovina, Dal-
matia, and Montenegro.
3. The central, or Drina and Morava river, area produces lower-quality
Macedonian and Hercegovinian tobaccos; this area includes central Serbia and
eastern Bosnia (Fora, Bratunac).
4. The area of the Vojvodina~tobacco type, represented by Cegedinska Ruza
tobacco, includes parts of the Backe, and the Banat.
The Macedonian type constitutes 56 percent of the total Yugoslav tobacco
production, the Hercegovinian type 30 percent, and the Vojvodina type 14 percent.
Industrially and commercially, Yugoslav tobaccos are divided into cigarette
tobaccos of the Macedonian and Hercegovinian types, cigar and pipe tobaccos of
the Vojvodina type, and tobaccos for the production of raw nicotine.
Cigarette Tobaccos
Cigarette tobaccos, which comprise more than 85 percent of the total tobacco
production in Yugoslavia, are classified as tobaccos for aromatizing or flavor-
ing and as filler tobaccos.
Tobaccos of the Macedonian type, such as those grown in Strumica, Djevdjeliia,
Radoviste, Prilep, Kavadar, Skoplje, and Vranje, Kaanti-Jake and Prilep types,
are aromatic tobaccos for cigarette blends. The aromatic tobaccos of the Mace-
donian type belong to the famous Turkish aromatic tobaccos and are equal in
quality to the best tobaccos of Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, and the Black Sea
area of the USSR. The general qualities required for aromatic tobaccos are
small leaves, soft texture, and light color; a mild and pleasant taste; a strong
aroma; and very good burning qualities. The above-mentio..ed tobaccos contain
up to one percent of nicotine.
The Prilep type, which is especially well known for its aroma of nectar and
honey, is very much in demand, especially in the US. This type includes the
Strumicka and Radoviska Jaka.
The aromatic tobaccos of the Macedonian type belong to category A.
Filler tobaccos or filler material serve as the basic filler tobaccos in
making cigarette blends. The following tobaccos can be placed in this group:
1. Tobaccos of category B of the Macedonian type have somewhat larger
leaves, darker color, diluted aroma, and a somewhat stronger taste than those
in category A. The Kumanovska Otlja (Kabakulak) is considered a very fine filler
because of its light yellow color, its very mild and pleasant taste, and its
easy workability.
2. Tobaccos of categories A and B of the Hercegovinian type hold a special
position among Yugoslav tobaccos. They have been world famous for a long time
as one of the best fillers. Moreover, these tobaccos are very good for smoking
unblended, since they possess many other good qualities of the oriental tobaccos
from which they originated. The general qualities of the Hercegovinian type of
tobaccos are large leaves, light color, distinctive taste and aroma, excellent
burning properties, and also a fine long fiber for cutting: These tobaccos are
first-class for export, since they are especially suitable for making fine-cut
tobacco=.
STAT
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There are two categories of Hercegovinian-type tobacco. The category A
tobaccos are golden yellow or lemon colored, have a thin and pliant leaf, and
have a pleasant taste, whereas the 'category B tobaccos have a coarser texture,
are somewhat stronger, and are mostly darker in color.
3. The Drina-Morava tobaccos can be inclined in the category of filler
tobaccos, with some exceptions. Among these tobaccos, the Bajinovac of the
Jake type, which was greatly liked and was in great demand in prewar Serbia,
and the Krusevac-Aleksinac tobacco of the Mulaip type (Golodrskan) are of the
Macedonian type. Both tobaccos are somewhat strong and are, therefore, blended
with milder tobaccos. Bosnian tobacco of the Hercegovinian type, which is used
for the same purpose, has an oval leaf, a darker color, and a coarser texture
than the category B of Hercegovinian and Dalmatian tobaccos.
Yugoslavia also produces tobaccos for cheap cigars and pipe tobaccos. Much
more of this type of tobacco was planted previously, but now only one type is
allowed which beet fits domestic and export demand; that is the Cegedinska Ruza.
This tobacco has a large oval leaf, a dark color, and the specific taste and
aroma suitable for cigars and pipe tobacco. Yugoslav factories successfully
use this type also for the production of cheap cigarettes.
Special types of tobacco, which are cultivated for the production of raw
nicotine, include the Mahorka containing over 8 percent nicotine and the Kapa
containing about 5 percent nicotine.
71
Before the war, Yugoslavia was fourth in world production of oriental
tobaccos. The highest prewar production, 33,570 tons, was achieved in 1924,
whereas 15,846 tons were produced in 1938, 16,926 tons in 1939, and 27,789 tons
in 1940. In 1945, 7,920 tons of tobacco were produced; in 1946, 18,000 tons;
in 1947, 39,350 tons; in 1948, 27,400 tons; in 1949, 25,800 tons; in 1950, 15,000
tons; and in 1951, about 28,500 tone:
Tobacco Handling for Industrial and Commercial Purposes
Treated and dried tobacco is purchased from producers in late autumn. The
raw tobacco is then sorted and cured in tobacco-processing enterprises and in
regional tobacco stations. The main enterprises for tobacco processing are
located in the centers of the largest tobacco areas: Skoplje, Prilep, Vranje,
Novi Sad, Mostar, Capljina, Imotski, and others These enterprises are charged
not only with tobacco planting, but also with sorting and curing.
Tobacco curing in Yugoslavia is done in season and out of season. Seasonal
curing begins in spring, when there is optimal temperature and moisture, and
terminates at the end of June. Out-of-season curing is done in special curing
plants, where optimal temperature and moisture are adjusted artificially, the
process of curing is accelerated and time is saved, production costs are re-
duced. Tobacco for domestic fabrication is mostly cured artificially. The
most important curing plants in Yugoslavia are in Skoplje, Prilep, Leskovac,
and Capljina. Curing plants are under construction in Novi Sad and Ljubuski.
Macedonian type tobaccos are classified into first or second zone according
to quality, each zone is classified into categories A and B, each category is
classified into six classes, and each class is divided into two subclasses.
Hercegovina-type tobaccos are classified into similar categories, classes, and
subclasses. Vojvodina-type tobaccos are classified into five classes.
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Tobacco Manufacturing
At present, tobacco is processed in ten factories, located respectively
in Nis, Sarajevo, Rovlnj, Ljubljana, Zagreb, Skoplje, Banja Luke, Mostar, Zadar,
and Titograd. The tobacco factory in Nis has the largest capacity and the most
modern machinery and technical installations. The Nis factory produces cigarettes
of almost all types for domestic consumption and for export.
The factory in Rovinj has the second largest capacit and produces cigarettes,
shredded tobacco for cigarettes, and tobacco extract. Tbe!factory is now being.
modernized.
The tobacco factory in Sarajevo was built in 1878. Cigarettes and shredded
tobacco are its most important products. This factory produces Drina cigarettes
and Trebinjac shredded tobacco for export.
The tobacco factory in Ljubljana, established in 1871, is the oldest in
Yugoslavia. It manufactures cigars, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, various types
of cigarettes, snuff, and tobacco extract
The tobacco factories in Zagreb, Skopije, Mostar, and Banja Luka are medium-
sized and produce only specific types of cigarettes. Yugoslavia's smallest
factories are those in Zadar and Titograd. The nicotine factory in Skoplje was
built after World War II.
Yugoslav tobacco factories not only meet domestic demand, but also export
needs.
Cigarettes are classified as extra or quality, with the latter divided into
four grades.
The extra group includes the following cigarettes: The Istra, made of a
blend of first-class Macedonian and Hercegovinian tobaccos, is aromatic, round
in shape, and is rich and full-bodied. The Jadran, a luxury cigarette with
gilded tip, no longer will be produced for domestic consumption but only on
order of foreign buyers.
Grade 1 includes the following cigarettes; The Makedonija, which is a
first-class cigarette of oriental type, has the intensive aroma and mild taste
characteristic of Macedonian tobaccos. The Drina is a first-class and very
popular cigarette, made predominantly of the best Hercegovinian tobaccos of
v1Lry pleasant taste, which is in the greatest demand of all Yugoslav tobacco
products. Next are the Triglav, Hercegovina, and Strumica cigarettes, which
no longer will be produced for domestic consumption
Grade 2 includes the following c,.garct.c-a; The extremely popular Morava
is a very good quality aromatic cigarette, which has the dominant characteristic
of Macedonian tobaccos. The P.lanica, a quite aromatic, special cigarette is
made of a blend of excellent Yugoslav tobaccos, and is somewhat stronger in
taste than the Morava. The Sutjeeka is narrower in diameter but has the same
characteristics as the Morava.
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Grade 3 includes the following cigarettes; The Zeta is a cigarette made
of a blend of Macedonian and Hercegovinian tobaccos, strong in taste, 8 milli-
meters in diameter, and round. The Ibar has the same qualities as the Zeta,_
but is narrower in diameter.
Grade 4 includes the Drava, which is made of strong tobaccos, and the
Sava, which has the same qualities as the Drava but is somewhat thinner. Both
are round.
Shredded Tobacco
The Trebinjac is a de luxe shredded tobacco from the beat Hercegovinian
tobaccos, is golden yellow in color, and has a very pleasant, distinctive taste.
The Zeta shredded tobacco has the same characteristics as the Zeta cigarette.
Pipe Tobacco
Pipe tobacco is of medium strength and is made of the best Vojvodina
tobaccos.
Chewing Tobacco
Chewing tobacco, made of Vojvodina tobacco, is sausage-shaped.
Cigars '
First-quality cigars include Operas and Trabukos which are fine aromatic
cigars made mostly of foreign tobaccos.
The second-quality cigar is the Puerto Rico, a cigar of medium quality.
The third-quality cigar is a short, machine-made domestic cigar,i.made
from Vojvodina tobaccos.
Snuff
Snuff is packed in packages of 50 grams each and made of tobacco scraps
which are ground and processed by adding various aromatics.
Insecticides
Tobacco extract and raw concentrated nicotine are among the insecticides.
Domestic Consumption
Frior to World War II, domestic tobacco consumption averaged 8,000 to 10,000
tons. Since the war, consumption has Increased by about 100 percent. Average
per-capita consumption is about 1.2 kilograms.
Before the war, tobacco was distributed through the Administration of State
Monopolies. At present, tobacco is sold through retail, trade, and hotel and
restaurant outlets. The retail network is managed by the "Dunav" Wholesale
Trade Enterprise, which is under the direction of the Association of Disabled
War Veterans of Yugoslavia. Tobacco is also sold through the srez associations
of agricultural cooperatives,
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Year
Cigarettes
(1,000)
Shredded
Tobacco
(kg)
Pipe
Tobacco
(kg)
Cigars
Tobacco
(kg)
Snuff
(kg)
Extract Raw
/kg?7 Nicotine*
1938
4,940,156
2,222,592
2,122,757
23,741,352
13,744
5,121
43,303
1939
5,095,702
1,834,534
3,761,591
18,490,434
9,962
4,455
27,507
1945
6,509,713'
1,885,360
--
33,666,000
3,529
604
**
1946
11,390,660
793,114
--
5,498,000
6,893
1,142
**
1947
13,160,000
419,111
18,105
9,334,000
21,600
3,394
**
1948
16,639,497
621,343
60,517
8,566,000
137,976
1,751
32,677
1949
21,202,504
1,480,193
60,000
10,706,u00
98,205
3,011
01
ca
1950**
*Production of raw nicotine is about 6,000 kilograms annually.
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Export
Yugoslav tobaccos of the Macedonian type were given the name Turkish
tobaccos during the Turkish occupation and were very well known on world
markets as early as the second half of the 19th Century, when the first
tobacco warehouses were built in Prilep, Skoplje, Veles, and Djevdjelija.
Before the war, Yugoslav tobacco was exported to the following countries
(in tons).
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
Czechoslovakia
3,291
3,394
3,391
2,638
3,196
Poland
1,039
--
1,633
--
--
France
1,557
--
545
253
1,911
Germany
--
239
--
--
718
Since the war, Yugoslav tobacco has been exported to the following
countries (in tons):
Value of
Exports
in 1950
(1,000
194,
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
dinars
USSR
2,204
2,142
3.457
8,670
1,392
--
Czechoslovakia
--
150
1,997
2,588
--
--
Poland
400
571
1,244
--
--
Hungary
-
399
--
--
Austria
--
102
0.1
300
874.5
1,000.6
72,538
West Germany
--
--
--
1,121
1,071.7
48,171
East Germany
15.8
519
266
--
Netherlands
1,187
2,475
884.5
42,670
Belgium
234
385.4
470
10,859
France
1,227
4,012
3,158.6
134,988
Switzerland
-
3
10
136.8
7,317
Italy
1,016
--
--
Great Britain
5.5
48.1
2,036
Sweden
2.5
100.5
299.8
20,340
F inland
69
25
50
1,915
Egypt
10
10
159.5
7,301
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T
STAT
Value of
Exports
in 1950
(1,000
1945
1946
1947 1948
1949 1950 dinars)
Us
--
--
0.01, 333
551 81.7
6,137
Trieste
--
--
3 --
500 --
Israel
--
--
-- --
100 --
Tunis
--
--
-- --
50 --
Argentina
--
--
-- --
-- 475.7
34,681
Australia
--
--
-- --
-- 3
19
Total
2,204
2,794
6,o44 17,801
11,878 7,840
The US is buying first-class tobacco of the Macedonian Prilep type; the
Netherlands, Belgium, and, to some extent, West Germany are interested in the
light and mild tobaccos of the lover grades of the Macedonian and Hercegovinien
types. France buys mostly large-leaf tobaccos darker in color and having a
strong smoking taste. -Steady buyers of Vojvodina tobacco are France, Belgium,
and Finland.
The prices of Macedonian tobaccos are considerably higher than the prices
of Hercegovinian tobaccos. Because Vojvodina tobacco has a high yield per
hectare, it is considerably cheaper than the other tobaccos.
In 1950, a total of 860,500 kilograms of Indian tobacco leaves valued at
10,936,000 dinars was purchased from India.
Export of Cigarettes
Exports of Yugoslav cigarettes have been as follows (in millions):
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
Australia
--
--
--
--
1.1
Austria
4
32.2
110.3
17.5
0.6
Belgium
--
--
--
0.6
--
Great Britain
--
--
--
0.5
--
East Germany
--
44
48.6
--
--
Italy
--
1.2
--
10.5
1.7
Trieste
23
3
--
-
Czechoslovakia
603
138
518
'-
--
Switzerland
--
--
--
--
0.1
Sweden
'-
'-
-
0.5
3
--
6.3
--
--
630
218.4
683.2
29.6
6.5
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