Sugar production below target

The Sugar Association of the Caribbean (SAC) is reporting that this year’s sugar production figures fell approximately 40,000 tonnes below the projected target.



The SAC said the final production for the 2007/2008 sugar crop was adversely affected by persistent rain in member countries during the reaping season.



During the month of July, only Jamaica with over 4,000 tonnes and Belize with 433 tonnes remained in production.



With regard to sugar production Guyana tops the list with over 268 tonnes, followed by Jamaica with over 140,000 tonnes, Belize with over 74,000 tonnes and Barbados producing about 30,000 tonnes.



Production for the year by the five remaining member countries of the association was almost 519,500 tonnes.



Total exports to date were a little over 470,000 tonnes, the majority of which was shipped to the EU.



The SAC said the strong Euro against the US currency helped to improve earnings for sugar producers, who earn most of their income from exports to the EU.