NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 25 – A kilo of sugar dropped by Sh10 to Sh185 in February from Sh195 in January after sugarcane milled by local factories grew.
The latest data from the Sugar Directorate shows that a total of 755,996 metric tons (MT) of sugarcane were milled by millers in February, up from 713,513 MT in the preceding month.
Production was also boosted by a five-month ban on the harvest of immature canes, which was lifted in November last year.
The window allowed for the full maturity of crops, helping to increase yields.
“In February 2024, wholesale prices dropped to an average of Ksh 6,969 per 50kg bag, down 4% from Ksh7,267 per 50kg bag in January 2024,” the Directorate said in a statement.
Increased local output impacted sugar imports, which fell by 14 percent to 42,381 MT from 49,510 MT.
“In February 2024, CIF Mombasa landed values for imported White Refined Sugar averaged Kshs121,246/tonne compared to Kshs106,658/tonne for Mill White/Brown sugar.”
The data also shows that production of molasses increased by 18 percent to 31,053, which reduced the cost of the product by 32 percent to Sh29,536 per ton.
