Extremadura kicks off the tobacco campaign consolidating its European leadership, with 98% of national production. This year, 6,496 hectares will be planted, 7% more than in the previous season, although far from the 10,000 hectares of 2010. Contracting reaches 23.69 million kilos, an increase of 723,600 kilos compared to 2025. However, the sector navigates between commercial optimism and the pressure of production costs.
3D analysis of supply: hectares, contracts, and industrial players 📊
The 3D visualization allows breaking down the sector's evolution. A vertical bar chart would compare the cultivated area in 2010 (10,000 ha) against the current 6,496 ha, revealing a 35% contraction. A second plane would show the kilos contracted by company: Oitab leads with 23.69 million kilos, followed by Cetarsa, Deltafina, and Mella, with individual increases totaling an additional 3% compared to last year. A 3D map of Extremadura, with topographic relief, could color the tobacco-growing regions (La Vera, Campo Arañuelo) according to the density of hectares per municipality, generating a visual thermal gradient. These data confirm that supply is growing in volume, but the hectare base remains far from its historical peak.
The margin paradox: more kilos, more costs, more risk ⚠️
The increase in hectares and contracts does not guarantee profitability. The Iran war drives up the price of fuel and fertilizers, critical inputs for the crop. Additionally, Asaja warns about restrictions on key phytosanitary products such as 1,3-Dichloropropene and Metam Sodium, which reduces pest control options. In a 3D surface graph, the variable of planted hectares could be crossed with the production cost index (diesel + fertilizers) to project a drop in net margin per kilo. The director of Oitab describes the growth in contracting as very positive, but farmers know that cultivating more does not always mean earning more.
What 3D metrics would you use to show supply vs demand in the sector?