Despite the government’s earlier declaration that 2025 would mark a turnaround for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), the company has announced it has fallen significantly short of its first crop target, missing it by more than 19,000 metric tonnes, reports News Source.
GuySuCo reported a production of 15,980 metric tonnes for the first crop, well below expectations. This comes after 2024 marked the lowest sugar production in the company’s history. With more than $13 billion allocated to the sugar industry in this year’s national budget, 2025 had been expected to bring improvement.
In a statement issued Monday evening, GuySuCo acknowledged the disappointing results but urged that the figures be considered in light of ongoing challenges, rather than seen as a failure of leadership.
The company said its Uitvlugt estate exceeded its target for the period by 74 tonnes, though it did not provide specific data for other estates.
GuySuCo cited unusually heavy and persistent rainfall as a major factor affecting its performance. “The weather severely disrupted harvesting, factory operations, and access to fields,” the statement noted. It added that rainfall in the Berbice estates was 212% above the long-term average, and 160% higher in the Demerara region. Over half of the available days during the crop were classified as wet days.
Labour shortages have also contributed to the shortfall. GuySuCo said it is facing a decline in available labour similar to other agricultural sectors worldwide. “This is not a recent issue, and it cannot be blamed on the CEO,” the statement said. In response, the corporation has been moving toward greater mechanization to address labour gaps and improve efficiency.
Despite the setback, GuySuCo said it is focused on long-term recovery. Efforts are underway to diversify revenue, enhance packaging and branding, and increase market access for Guyana’s sugar.
Looking ahead, the corporation said it is now reviewing field operations, logistics, and timelines in preparation for the second crop. It plans to recover as much as possible from the canes that will be carried over from the first crop.
