Farmers supplied 80% of CARICOM's brown sugar demand - SAC

The Sugar Association of the Caribbean (SAC) is reporting that its members met approximately 80% of the brown sugar needs of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for the 2017/18 crop season.

In a statement, the SAC said its members supplied the market with 121,800 tonnes of brown sugar out of a total estimated demand of 150,000 tonnes.

SAC comprises the Barbados Agricultural Management Company, the Belize Sugar Industries Limited, the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc., and the Sugar Manufacturing Corporation of Jamaica Limited.

SAC Chairman Karl James, in looking ahead to the next crop, has stated that CARICOM sugar industries are gearing up to supply total regional market sugar demand.

“Industries across the region are investing to produce high-end white and brown direct consumption sugar.

“Capacity is anticipated to rise to over 200,000 tonnes within the next two years, complementing existing capacity to provide the brown sugar market,” noted James.
 
The SAC said its members have underscored that their investment in increased production is in response to regional sugar demand and changes to the sugar markets traditionally supplied by CARICOM producers.
 
According to the SAC, members produced 357,130 tonnes of sugar in the 2017/18 crop with Belize as the leading producer with 141,034 tonnes, followed by Guyana with 122,143 tonnes.

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