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Enough sugar despite drought, says minister

31 Mar 2016

The sugar industry is confident it can produce enough sugar to supply the local market in 2015-16 despite the severe drought in several sugar-growing regions, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said.

antriksh via pixabay

He said there was sufficient raw sugar in stock at the sugar terminals in addition to a small surplus for export, though special measures had had to be taken to ensure more production of refined sugar.

Supply of refined sugar

"Due to the unexpectedly high demand for refined sugar, especially by the soft drinks manufacturers "due to the hot summer period" the industry experienced low stocks of some grades of refined sugar," he said.

"At the beginning of the month, the sugar industry met to implement a strategy to restore the supply of refined sugar into the domestic market." He was replying to a parliamentary question by the DA's trade and industry spokesman, Geordin Hill-Lewis.

Hill-Lewis wanted to know whether the minister was considering the temporary removal of duties on imported sugar to assist consumers and alleviate food price inflation in the context of a significant shortage of locally produced sugar.

Davies said the two biggest refineries, Noodsberg and Hullets, had agreed to open early for refining purposes as the industry is off-season, in addition to working over the public holiday period this month. The rest of the refineries will open on April 1.

"The figures received from the sugar industry regarding 2016-17 production estimates, current available supply and carryover stock into the new season from the 2015-16 crop, indicate sufficient supply into the local market going forward," Davies said." - BDlive

Source: Herald

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