SA Canegrowers warns that the sugar cane industry is under serious threat from cheap imports, which have surged in recent months.
The sugar industry in South Africa stands at a critical crossroads as alarming new statistics reveal that sugar imports in the first five months of 2026 have nearly doubled compared to the same period last year. Amidst this deluge of imported sugar displacing locally produced products on store shelves, food and beverage producers are increasingly turning to foreign sources for their supply, raising dire concerns about the sustainability of local agriculture.
Industry body SA Canegrowers is urgently appealing to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, to intervene decisively. They are calling for the immediate finalisation of an updated tariff mechanism tailored to current market realities. This adjustment is no longer a matter of preference; it has become a necessity if the local sugar industry is to survive.
The International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) is currently evaluating whether the existing sugar tariffs adequately reflect the competitive landscape, following an application submitted by the industry over 18 months ago. However, action is overdue. According to data from the South African Revenue Service (SARS), 94,984 tons of sugar were imported between January and May 2026. In stark contrast, only 55,213 tons entered the market during the same months in 2025. A year before, in 2022, imports during this period had totalled 1,491 tons, signalling a drastic shift in the market influenced by weakened tariff protections.
