As of 2018, which country was the world's largest tobacco producer?

Tobacco is a plant product containing mainly nicotine, cellulose, ammonia, and protein. In order for tobacco to be suitable for human consumption, the tobacco leaves are dried and cured after picking them at the plant and separating them from their stems. Various tobacco goods can be manufactured from the processed dried leaves including cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco and shisha (molasses-based) tobacco. It is predominantly consumed for the stimulant alkaloid nicotine and is associated with many heart- and lung-related diseases including cancer.

Tobacco production is primarily concentrated in regions with a mild and sunny climate, which is suitable for the cultivation of tobacco plants. As of 2018, China with 2.2 miliion tons was the leading producer worldwide. Brazil, with 760 thousand tons was second and India, with 750 thousand tons was third.

State Tobacco Monopoly Administration and China National Tobacco Corporation (commonly known as China Tobacco, abbreviated as CNTC) is a Chinese government agency responsible for tobacco regulation and a state-owned manufacturer of tobacco products, operated by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China. It enjoys a virtual monopoly in China, which accounts for roughly 40% of the world's total consumption of cigarettes, and is the world's largest manufacturer of tobacco products measured by revenues.