Kenya has lowered its sugar imports by nearly half last month as sweetner production increased by 15 per cent between January and July compared to the same period last year, reports Business Daily Africa.
The country has produced 4,80,849 tonnes during the review period as against 418,799 during the same period last year, states the data from the Sugar Directorate.
The Directorate has limited the imports to 9,394 tonnes in July, from 17,200 tonnes, last month. It has stated that there was a 15% increase in sugar production from January to July taking output to 480,849 tonnes from 418,799 tonnes during the same period last year.
The better production and steady supply of raw materials have helped in boosting local production resulting in lowering sugar imports from March.
Kenya can import up to 300,000 tonnes of sugar from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) market to fill the annual deficit. Last year, the quota was restricted to 210,000 by the Treasury to protect local farmers.
