Market research

Sugar cane market in Eswatini

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

Sugar cane production in Eswatini remained relatively stable between 2018 and 2020, with annual volumes around 5.7 million tonnes. The market saw a slight contraction in 2021, falling to 5.27 million tonnes.

Output recovered to 5.54 million tonnes in 2022, aided by increased cane deliveries to mills, improved crop quality, and higher sugar extraction rates. This growth was supported by industry investments in on-site solar power and water recycling to counter high energy costs and drought vulnerability. Production then eased to 5.22 million tonnes in 2023.

The sector is anchored by several large domestic producers, including Crookes Plantations, Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation, Tambankulu Estates, and Ubombo Sugar, with sugarcane cultivated primarily on irrigated land in the country's lowveld region.

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 sugar cane in Eswatini

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, Eswatini ranked as the 27th largest producer of sugar cane globally.

Top producers of sugar cane, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of sugar cane, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, Eswatini produced 5 759 thousand tonnes of sugar cane, 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 production decline occurred in 2019, with a decrease of 0.0%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2018 at 1.4%.

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 sugar cane 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 primary export partner for sugar cane in kind, 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, South Africa served as the main destination for Eswatini's sugar cane exports in value terms, consistently accounting for 100.0% of total export value.

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 sugar cane to Eswatini

Imports in kind, kg

The market for sugar cane imports in kind showed considerable volatility over these years. The highest volume was recorded in 2017, while the lowest occurred in 2018, resulting in a peak-to-trough ratio of 21 times. In 2020, sugar cane imports into Eswatini totaled 91 kilograms, which is 10.0% lower than the previous year. The minimum value was 65 kilograms in 2018. The largest decline was observed in 2018 at 95.2%, and the most significant increase took place in 2019 with a rise of 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	(95.2%)	54.5%	(10.0%)	(59.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017–2020, imports in kind were almost entirely concentrated on South Africa, which made up 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 for sugar cane imports in value terms displayed an unstable trend during this period. From 2017 to 2020, the peak-to-trough amplitude was 11.4 times. In 2020, sugar cane imports into Eswatini amounted to 191 US dollars, representing a year-on-year decrease of 27.4%. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 90.5%, while the most substantial increase occurred in 2019 with a growth of 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	(90.5%)	27.5%	(27.4%)	(55.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, South Africa dominated the geographical structure of sugar cane imports in value terms to Eswatini, accounting for 100.0% of total import flows.

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