South Africa: Sugar Annual

FAS Pretoria forecasts that South African sugar production will increase by two percent in Marketing Year (MY) 2026/27 compared to the previous MY, driven by increased cane deliveries. Most sugar mills opened in March and are expected to crush cane through December 2026. In MY 2025/26, sugar imports surged as world sugar prices declined, prompting the government to increase the import tariff on February 13, 2026. As a result, FAS Pretoria expects imports to decline by 24 percent in MY 2026/27. Exports are forecast to drop by 17 percent as the industry prioritizes supplying the domestic market.