Sucrose in solid form market in Uganda

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018, Uganda's sucrose market expanded from 488 thousand tons to a peak of 585 thousand tons in 2022, driven primarily by state policies that licensed new sugar manufacturers and controlled imports to protect domestic industry. Consumer preference for local and brown sugar further supported demand, while national production capacity grew steadily, making Uganda the largest brown sugar producer in East Africa.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted supply chains in 2020, temporarily reducing market size despite rising production. Recovery followed as production surged to 706 thousand tons by 2022, fueled by new market entrants and continued government support. Concurrently, sugar prices fell to a low of 0.48 US$ per kg in 2021, stimulating consumption and helping market volume reach 516 thousand tons that year.

In 2023, the market contracted to 523 thousand tons as production dropped to 548 thousand tons, partly due to increased brown sugar exports to regional markets like Tanzania. Global price fluctuations and supply chain factors also influenced the decline, while regulatory measures to limit imports and promote local output remained a constant throughout the period.

Production sucrose in solid form in Uganda

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of sucrose in solid form, 2017-2020

World map of production of sucrose in solid form, 2017-2020

After two consecutive years of decline, Uganda's production of solid sucrose rebounded. In 2019, output reached its lowest point at 432.2 thousand tons, marking a 2.3% decrease. The following year, production increased by 5.1% to 454.1 thousand tons in 2020.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Following two years of contraction, Uganda's solid sucrose production value showed recovery. In 2019, production value hit its minimum at 224.5 million US dollars, representing a substantial 19.9% decline. By 2020, this had increased by 7.6% to 241.5 million US dollars. Over the 2017-2020 period, production value decreased by 21.3%, corresponding to a compound annual growth rate of -7.7%.

Annual dynamics of production in Uganda in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports sucrose in solid form from Uganda

Exports in kind, K t

Uganda's solid sucrose exports reached 108.7 thousand tons in 2020, showing a modest 8.3% increase from the previous year. The highest export volume was recorded in 2018 at 117.2 thousand tons, which represented a 19.8% increase. In 2019, exports declined by 14.4% to their lowest point. Overall, between 2017 and 2020, exports grew by 11.1%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 3.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Uganda in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo dominated Uganda's solid sucrose exports, together accounting for 85.8% of total export volume. The remaining 14.2% was distributed among various other destinations, each with relatively minor shares.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

Uganda's solid sucrose export value stood at 57.8 million US dollars in 2020, reflecting a 10.9% increase from 2019. The peak export value occurred in 2018 at 74.2 million US dollars, while the lowest point was recorded in 2019 at 52.1 million US dollars, marking a significant 29.8% decline. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value decreased by 14.1%, corresponding to a compound annual growth rate of -4.9%.

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

During the 2017-2020 period, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo served as the primary markets for Uganda's solid sucrose exports in value terms, jointly representing 85.0% of total export value. Other destinations accounted for the remaining 15.0%, with individually smaller contributions.

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

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

Imports sucrose in solid form to Uganda

Imports in kind, K t

Uganda imported 157.3 thousand tons of solid sucrose in 2020, representing a substantial 14.5% decrease from the previous year. Import volumes peaked in 2019 at 183.9 thousand tons, which marked a 12.7% increase. Between 2017 and 2020, imports declined by 12.7%, equivalent to an annualized reduction rate of 4.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Uganda in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, three countries—India, Thailand, and Egypt—collectively supplied 53.3% of Uganda's solid sucrose imports by volume. The remaining 46.7% came from various other sources.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

Uganda's solid sucrose import value totaled 67.7 million US dollars in 2020, showing an 11.9% decrease from 2019. The most significant decline occurred in 2018 with a 25.7% reduction, while 2019 saw a modest 3.2% increase. Over the 2017-2020 period, import value decreased by 32.4%, equivalent to an annualized decline of 12.3%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, India (23.1% of import value), Egypt (15.0%), and Thailand (14.4%) were the main sources of Uganda's solid sucrose imports in value terms, together accounting for 52.4% of total import value. The remaining 47.6% came from various other countries.

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

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