Malawi's tobacco sales up 55% in latest season: regulator

Malawi's sales of tobacco, its biggest foreign exchange earner, increased to roughly $282 million in the latest season, up from $182 million a year earlier, its industry regulator said. Dwindling tobacco revenues in recent years have contributed to acute dollar shortages that have resulted in a lack of imported fuel, fertiliser and medicines in the donor-dependent southern African country. Malawi has turned to the International Monetary Fund for financial support and launched debt restructuring talks with creditors.