2026 FCV Sales Procedures
The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has released the official procedures governing the 2026 Tobacco Marketing Season, reaffirming the dual marketing system and introducing strengthened compliance, digital monitoring and enforcement measures.
The 2026 season will operate under the established auction and contract system.
• Auction sales commence: 4 March 2026 • Contract sales commence: 5 March 2026
• **Bookings and deliveries open: 2 March 2026
• Selling hours: 7:30am to 1:00pm
Non-contracted growers must sell exclusively through licensed auction floors, while contracted growers must deliver to approved contractor receiving points.
The grower payment framework remains unchanged:
• 70% of proceeds paid in USD (net of foreign currency loans) into the grower’s Foreign Currency Account (FCA). These funds are treated as free funds.
• 30% paid in local currency (ZiG)
• at the prevailing official exchange rate.
All stop orders must be lodged electronically at least 48 hours before sale, with payment processing validated through TIMB’s digital system.
In a significant development, Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) have been replaced by a formal Contractors’ Compliance Administration Framework, now a binding licensing condition.
Contractors are legally obliged to purchase tobacco equivalent to the grower’s verified indebtedness and may not buy tobacco they did not finance. Contract pricing will be electronically benchmarked against the previous day’s auction prices and seasonal weighted averages. Any underpricing will be automatically flagged and may attract penalties.
TIMB may impose sanctions including fines, suspension of booking privileges, quota reductions, or licence review.
Biometric registration is now a mandatory pre-condition for grower registration, booking, delivery, sale and payment. No tobacco will be accepted or paid for unless biometric details are verified.
All contractors and auction floors must obtain TIMB IT Compliance Certification. Systems must integrate with TIMB for:
• Booking validation
• Biometric verification
• Stop order enforcement
• Real-time sales data transmission
Failure to maintain compliance may result in immediate suspension of selling activities.
Bale Standards & Presentation
Strict standards apply to packaging and presentation:
• Minimum bale mass: 20kg net
• Maximum bale mass: 120kg net
• Only approved hessian wraps and tobacco paper may be used
• Plastic contamination is strictly prohibited
Split bales must contain only two closely related grades and be properly declared.
Foreign matter, nesting, over-conditioning and fuel contamination remain serious offences and may result in withdrawal of consignments or forfeiture.
Contract sales will also operate at approved decentralised centres in Karoi, Mvurwi, Bindura, Marondera, Mutoko and Rusape, subject to full biometric and IT oversight controls.
TIMB has strengthened anti-side marketing provisions. Where 10% or more of a consignment is non-compliant, further sales may be suspended pending investigation. Repeated breaches may result in licence suspension or revocation.
Mass–hectare variance monitoring will automatically flag significant discrepancies between declared hectarage and volumes sold.
Overall, the 2026 procedures signal a more digitally integrated, compliance-driven marketing season aimed at ensuring orderly sales, transparent pricing, secure loan recovery and the continued integrity of Zimbabwe’s tobacco marketing system.