Market research

Sugar cane market in Sub-Saharan Africa

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Sub-Saharan Africa" region includes following countries:

Cabo Verde

Benin

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Côte d'Ivoire

Liberia

Mali

Mauritania

Niger

Nigeria

Guinea-Bissau

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Togo

Burkina Faso

British Indian Ocean Territory

Burundi

Comoros

Mayotte

Ethiopia

Eritrea

French Southern Territories

Djibouti

Kenya

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Mozambique

Reunion

Rwanda

Seychelles

Somalia

Zimbabwe

South Sudan

Uganda

Tanzania

Zambia

Angola

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Equatorial Guinea

Gabon

Sao Tome and Principe

Botswana

Lesotho

Namibia

South Africa

Eswatini

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, sugar cane production in South Africa was influenced by external pressures and policy shifts. The reduction of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) sugar quota forced increased exports onto a global market with prices below local production costs, while the introduction of the Health Promotion Levy reduced domestic sugar demand. Despite these challenges, production rose from 75 847 thousand tons in 2018 to 77 604 thousand tons in 2019, partly supported by the Recoverable Value payment system which incentivized better agricultural practices to maintain cane quality and yields. In 2020, output dipped slightly to 76 713 thousand tons, prompting the launch of the South African Sugarcane Value Chain Master Plan to 2030 aimed at stabilizing the industry and diversifying the value chain.

The implementation of the Master Plan and expanded support services to farmers helped production stabilize at 76 831 thousand tons in 2021 and then grow to 78 600 thousand tons in 2022. This increase occurred even as the sector faced rising production costs exacerbated by load shedding, civil unrest, and dry spells that affected crop yields. Industry efforts focused on improving cane quality management through research and extension services to counter negative trends in fiber and non-sucrose content, which impacted sugar recovery at mills.

In 2023, production declined to 74 480 thousand tons, driven by the continued adverse effects of load shedding on operations and supply chains. Concurrently, consumer shifts towards health-conscious consumption and convenience-driven frozen and ready-to-eat products began influencing sugar demand patterns. The industry adapted by increasing focus on technological integration, clean labeling, and product innovation to align with these evolving preferences.

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
1. 4.1. In kind
  1. 4.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
  2. 4.1.2. Imports, 2024
  3. 4.1.3. Exports, 2024
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Sub-Saharan Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2018-2023, K t
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. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cabo Verde in kind, 2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Cabo Verde by countries, 2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cabo Verde in value, 2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Cabo Verde by countries, 2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Cabo Verde, 2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Cabo Verde by countries, 2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cabo Verde in kind, 2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Cabo Verde by countries, 2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cabo Verde in value, 2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Cabo Verde by countries, 2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Cabo Verde, 2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Cabo Verde by countries, 2024, $ US/t
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cabo Verde in kind, 2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Cabo Verde by countries, 2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cabo Verde in value, 2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Cabo Verde by countries, 2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Cabo Verde, 2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Cabo Verde by countries, 2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cabo Verde in kind, 2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Cabo Verde by countries, 2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cabo Verde in value, 2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Cabo Verde by countries, 2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Cabo Verde, 2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Cabo Verde by countries, 2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 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 Sub-Saharan Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of sugar cane, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of sugar cane, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Sugar cane production in Sub-Saharan Africa declined after two consecutive years of growth. In 2020, the region produced 76 713 thousand tons, marking a 1.1% decrease from the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 5.8% overall, which translates to an average annual increase of 1.9%. The peak production level was reached in 2019 at 77 604 thousand tons, while the strongest year-over-year growth occurred in 2018 with a 4.6% increase.

Annual dynamics of production in Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2017-2020, K t