Tobacco production refers to the total quantity of raw, unmanufactured tobacco leaves harvested from tobacco crops within a country or region during a specific year, generally measured in tonnes.
Malaysia Tobacco Production was 0.0800 Thousand Tonnes in 2024, down 27.3% on 2023. Malaysia Tobacco Production from 2015 to 2024 experienced a sharp decline over the decade, reflecting major structural changes in the country’s tobacco cultivation sector, reduced farming activities, and increasing dependence on imported tobacco leaves. Malaysia recorded tobacco production of 2,139.32 tonnes in 2015, followed by a slight increase to 2,195.09 tonnes in 2016.
Malaysia Tobacco Production moved from 2.14 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 0.0800 Thousand Tonnes in 2024 (−96.3%), an average of −30.6% a year. The series high was 2.20 Thousand Tonnes in 2016 and the low 0.0732 Thousand Tonnes in 2022.
The gap between the series high (2016) and low (2022) is 2.12 Thousand Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was −78.6% in 2019.
Among the 31 countries in this dataset, Malaysia ranks 30 for 2024, behind China (2,256 Thousand Tonnes) and India (727.2 Thousand Tonnes). It accounts for 0% of the global total in 2024.
Full series
Complete annual series with year-on-year change. Values are reported in Thousand Tonnes.
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| Year | Thousand Tonnes | Change vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0.0800 | −27.3% |
| 2023 | 0.110 | +50.2% |
| 2022 Trough | 0.0733 | −57.4% |
| 2021 | 0.172 | −18.5% |
| 2020 | 0.211 | +62.7% |
| 2019 | 0.130 | −78.6% |
| 2018 | 0.606 | −70.2% |
| 2017 | 2.03 | −7.3% |
| 2016Peak | 2.20 | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 2.14 | — |
Regional context
Tobacco Production by country, 2024, Thousand Tonnes. Malaysia is highlighted.
Data definition
Tobacco Production — Tobacco production refers to the total quantity of raw, unmanufactured tobacco leaves harvested from tobacco crops within a country or region during a specific year, generally measured in tonnes. It represents the agricultural output generated through the cultivation, growth, and harvesting of tobacco plants for commercial use. This macro indicator tracks changes in tobacco farming activities, production volumes, cultivation practices, harvested area, and yield performance over time, providing insights into the scale and trends of tobacco crop production across different regions.
Tobacco production includes the annual harvested quantity of raw tobacco leaves from commercially cultivated tobacco plants. It covers major tobacco varieties such as flue-cured, burley, oriental, and other types grown by small-scale farmers and large agricultural producers. The indicator includes tobacco crops produced within national boundaries for use in the manufacturing of cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, and other processed tobacco products. It accounts for agricultural activities related to cultivation, harvesting, and primary crop output measured in tonnes.
Tobacco production excludes processed tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and other finished tobacco goods. It does not include tobacco manufacturing, packaging, distribution, retail sales, consumption, imports, or exports of tobacco products. The indicator also excludes synthetic nicotine products, non-tobacco nicotine alternatives, experimental tobacco cultivation, and broader economic measures such as tobacco industry revenue, employment, market value, or trade statistics.
Tobacco Production — Tobacco production refers to the total quantity of raw, unmanufactured tobacco leaves harvested from tobacco crops within a country or region during a specific year, generally measured in tonnes. It represents the agricultural output generated through the cultivation, growth, and harvesting of tobacco plants for commercial use. This macro indicator tracks changes in tobacco farming activities, production volumes, cultivation practices, harvested area, and yield performance over time, providing insights into the scale and trends of tobacco crop production across different regions.
Production declined moderately to 2,034.45 tonnes in 2017, before experiencing a significant reduction to 605.82 tonnes in 2018. The downward trend continued in 2019, with production reaching 129.66 tonnes, followed by a slight recovery to 211 tonnes in 2020. In 2021, Malaysia recorded tobacco production of 172 tonnes, which further declined to 73.25 tonnes in 2022. Production increased slightly to 110 tonnes in 2023, before declining again to 80 tonnes in 2024. The overall trend indicates a substantial contraction of Malaysia’s domestic tobacco farming industry during the observed period. Historically, tobacco cultivation was practiced in several rural areas of Malaysia, particularly in regions with suitable climatic conditions and traditional farming communities. However, rising production costs, limited cultivation areas, stricter tobacco control regulations, and competition from imported tobacco have reduced the economic attractiveness of local tobacco farming. Many farmers have shifted toward alternative agricultural activities that provide better income opportunities and long-term sustainability. Despite the decline in raw tobacco production, Malaysia continues to participate in the tobacco value chain through tobacco processing, manufacturing, and distribution activities. The production decline between 2015 and 2024 highlights the transformation of Malaysia’s tobacco sector from a domestic cultivation-focused industry toward a more import-dependent and processing-oriented market. The future of tobacco production in Malaysia is expected to depend on agricultural policies, market demand, and the changing structure of the regional tobacco industry.
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Tobacco production refers to the total quantity of raw, unmanufactured tobacco leaves harvested from tobacco crops within a country or region during a specific year, generally measured in tonnes. It represents the agricultural output generated through the cultivation, growth, and harvesting of tobacco plants for commercial use. This macro indicator tracks changes in tobacco farming activities, production volumes, cultivation practices, harvested area, and yield performance over time, providing insights into the scale and trends of tobacco crop production across different regions.
Malaysia Tobacco Production was 0.0800 Thousand Tonnes in 2024, down 27.3% on 2023.
Malaysia Tobacco Production moved from 2.14 Thousand Tonnes in 2015 to 0.0800 Thousand Tonnes in 2024 (−96.3%), an average of −30.6% a year. The series high was 2.20 Thousand Tonnes in 2016 and the low 0.0732 Thousand Tonnes in 2022.
The highest value was 2.20 Thousand Tonnes in 2016 and the lowest was 0.0732 Thousand Tonnes in 2022.
Included: Tobacco production includes the annual harvested quantity of raw tobacco leaves from commercially cultivated tobacco plants. It covers major tobacco varieties such as flue-cured, burley, oriental, and other types grown by small-scale farmers and large agricultural producers. The indicator includes tobacco crops produced within national boundaries for use in the manufacturing of cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, and other processed tobacco products. It accounts for agricultural activities related to cultivation, harvesting, and primary crop output measured in tonnes. Excluded: Tobacco production excludes processed tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and other finished tobacco goods. It does not include tobacco manufacturing, packaging, distribution, retail sales, consumption, imports, or exports of tobacco products. The indicator also excludes synthetic nicotine products, non-tobacco nicotine alternatives, experimental tobacco cultivation, and broader economic measures such as tobacco industry revenue, employment, market value, or trade statistics.
The series is sourced from Our World in Data (https://ourworldindata.org/explorers/global-food?tab=table&Food=Tobacco&Metric=Production&Per+capita=false&country=USA~DEU~FRA~GBR~BRA~ZAF%3BhideControls). It covers 2015–2024 and is reported in Thousand Tonnes.
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