SA faces sugar shortage as local producers hit âslight supply dipâ
By Edward West
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CAPE TOWN - INDUSTRIAL buyers of refined sugar say there has been no production of the condiment in the market since the beginning of this month.
The Association of Southern Africa Sugar Importers (Asasi) chairperson and Super Syrups founder Chris Engelbrecht told Business Report this week that Tongaat Hulett confirmed on March 26 to Super Syrups that it could draw on their quota, but was told on March 31 that Tongaatâs mills were being shut down for a few weeks and the first supply would be available only on May 1.
Sugar cane farming is the lifeblood of rural communities
By Winston Mfeka
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Durban - WITH an estimated 20 200 sugar cane growers in Kwazulu-Natal and southern Mpumalanga, sugar cane farming remains the lifeblood of rural communities.
However, the industry is facing a crisis as it has been shown in reports that sugar production in South Africa has declined by 25% over the last 20 years.
This has been due to manipulated sugar prices, increasing volumes of low-priced tariff- free exports and the sugar containing drink tax that was introduced in April 2018With these factors, the demand for sugar is expected to decline, and ultimately jobs in the sugar cane industry could be under threat.