Kenya’s sugar production rose by five percent last month, thanks to large stocks of mature sugarcane, even as the total amount of cane processed by mills slightly decreased, reports Nation.
According to the latest report from the Kenya Sugar Board (KSB), the country produced 76,758 tonnes of sugar in February, up from 73,019 tonnes in January. However, the volume of sugarcane crushed during the same period fell to 816,632 tonnes from 827,482 tonnes the previous month.
Jude Chesire, CEO of KSB, explained that millers benefited from a steady supply of fully grown sugarcane containing more sugar, helping them extract higher amounts from each tonne processed.
“Having enough mature cane allowed millers to produce more sugar even though they crushed slightly less cane overall,” Chesire said.
Mature sugarcane, which is typically harvested after 9 to 24 months, depending on climate conditions, accumulates more sugar as it grows. This contributed to an improved processing ratio, with 10.64 tonnes of cane needed to produce one tonne of sugar in February, compared to 11.33 tonnes in January.
Despite the rise in production, sugar sales dropped by 11 percent to 66,151 tonnes in February, down from 74,000 tonnes the previous month. As a result, unsold stocks more than doubled, reaching 20,413 tonnes compared to 9,653 tonnes in January.
Chesire linked the slowdown in sales to reduced consumer spending in early 2025.
“Many people had already spent their money during the December holidays, and by January and February, families were focusing on school expenses. This naturally lowered demand, leading to higher stock levels,” he said.
The report also noted a slight decrease in sugar prices. Factory prices dipped by 0.7 percent to Sh6,525 per 50kg bag, while wholesale prices fell by six percent to Sh6,712 for the same quantity. Retail prices also saw a small decline, averaging Sh156 per kilogramme, down from Sh157 in January.
