Market research

Primary sugar crops market in Eswatini

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

Primary sugar crops production in Eswatini remained stable at around 5 690 K t in 2018 and 2019, supported by Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation's operations and its Simama 20-20 strategy aimed at cost reduction and expanded cane cultivation. Output rose to 5 759 K t in 2020 following the strategy's completion, which delivered operational improvements and enhanced milling efficiency.

Market volume dropped to 5 267 K t in 2021 before a partial recovery to 5 539 K t in 2022. In 2023, production declined to 5 220 K t as the industry implemented corrective measures to address crop issues, including adjusted harvesting timing to optimize yields for subsequent seasons.

In 2024, industry initiatives included ABF Sugar's debottlenecking program to raise Ubombo mill capacity by 20%, research into value-added sugarcane products, and Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation's preparation for a record crushing season. The sector also achieved Bonsucro sustainability certification, strengthening access to international markets through preferential trade agreements.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Eswatini
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Eswatini in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Eswatini in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, kg
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eswatini in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Eswatini by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eswatini in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Eswatini by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Eswatini, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Eswatini by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, kg
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eswatini in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Eswatini by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eswatini in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Eswatini by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Eswatini, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Eswatini by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, kg
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eswatini in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Eswatini by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eswatini in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Eswatini by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Eswatini, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Eswatini by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, kg
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eswatini in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Eswatini by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eswatini in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Eswatini by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Eswatini, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Eswatini by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, kg
  2. 8.1.2. In value, $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, kg
  2. 8.2.2. In value, $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production primary sugar crops in Eswatini

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of primary sugar crops, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of primary sugar crops, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, Eswatini produced 5 759 K t of primary sugar crops, marking a slight increase of 1.2% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 2.6%, which translates to an annualized rate of 0.9%. The most significant increase occurred in 2018, at 1.4%, while 2019 saw no change in production levels.

Annual dynamics of production in Eswatini in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1.4%	(0.0%)	1.2%	0.9%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports primary sugar crops from Eswatini

Exports in kind, kg

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eswatini in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, South Africa was the dominant destination for Eswatini's exports of primary sugar crops in kind, consistently representing 100.0% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Eswatini in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, $ US

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eswatini in value, 2017-2020, $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017–2020, Eswatini's exports of primary sugar crops in value terms were almost entirely directed to South Africa, which accounted for 100.0% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Eswatini in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports primary sugar crops to Eswatini

Imports in kind, kg

The data shows irregular changes, pointing to a volatile market environment. Imports varied significantly, with a 21-fold difference between the high in 2017 and the low in 2018. In 2020, Eswatini's imports of primary sugar crops in kind were recorded at 91 kg, reflecting a gradual contraction of 10.0% from the previous year. The minimum value was observed in 2018 at 65 kg. The largest decline occurred in 2018, at 95.3%, while the most substantial increase was in 2019, at 54.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eswatini in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(95.3%)	54.5%	(10.0%)	(59.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, imports of primary sugar crops in kind to Eswatini were almost entirely sourced from South Africa, which represented 100.0% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Eswatini in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, $ US

The market exhibited volatility over the observed period. Imports changed by 11.5 times from the peak in 2017 to the trough in 2020. In 2020, the volume of primary sugar crop imports to Eswatini stood at 191 $ US, indicating an intense decrease of 27.4% year-over-year. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 90.6%, while the most significant increase occurred in 2019 at 27.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eswatini in value, 2017-2020, $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(90.6%)	27.5%	(27.4%)	(55.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

Over 2017–2020, Eswatini's dependence on South Africa was pronounced, with this market accounting for 100.0% of total imports in value terms of primary sugar crops.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Eswatini in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io