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Universal Raises Tobacco Projection to 3.959 Billion Kilograms  

Universal Corp., the world's biggest tobacco-leaf merchant, forecast global output of 3.959 billion kilograms (8.7 billion pounds) for the top grade of the commodity this year, higher than its previous estimate.

The forecast for flue-cured tobacco is 0.6 percent higher than last month's estimate of 3.936 billion kilograms and 2.4 percent above last year's production of 3.868 billion kilograms, Richmond, Virginia-based Universal said on its Web site.

Brazil, the biggest exporter of flue-cured tobacco, will probably produce 25 million kilograms more than estimated earlier, Universal said, without saying why.

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