Harare: Southern Africa has become the major sugarcane producing and processing region on the continent. The region has the potential to increase sugar production in future with improving infrastructure, water and energy, indicates analysis done by the industry sector.
eSwatini, South Africa and Zimbabwe are the biggest sugar producers in Africa, states the Sugar in Africa Focus Report by the Oxford Business Group (OBG), a global research and consultancy firm. The firm publishes economic intelligence on the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America.
As per the report, half of the African countries produce sugarcane with major producers are South Africa and Egypt. The other important producers are eSwatini, Morocco, Uganda, Kenya and Sudan.
Jose Orive, executive director, International Sugar Organisation said, “The most efficient sugarcane producing region on the continent as per the yield is the Southern African Development Community. There are challenges to achieve full potential of the region.”
Sugar output in Africa was at 10.9 million tonnes in 2019 which was increased from 10.8 million tonnes produced in 2018 and 10.1 million tonnes produced in 2017. Africa accounts for six per cent of global sugar output.
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