Maryland's tobacco auction season has closed, posting the highest average price in its history at $187.19 a hundred pounds, according to the Maryland State Tobacco Authority.

More than 9 million pounds of tobacco was sold at a value of $16,917,239, the authority reported. This represents an increase of 1.3 million pounds and $3.8 million in value from 1990.

The 14-day tobacco auction exceeded the former record high price by $12.26 a hundred pounds set in 1982, the authority said.