Kenya’s sugar production hit a six-month high in February, even as prices of the commodity remained costlier than it was in recent months when local domestic production was down.
The latest official data shows that the 76,663-tonne production in February is also the highest output for the month compared to the past six years.
February’s sugar production was a 4.7 percent growth from the production of 73,201 tonnes in January, and was the highest since July 2024 when 83,849 tonnes were produced, data from the Kenya Sugar Board shows.
While domestic sugar production was at a six-month high, sugar prices, however, climbed from a low of Sh159.69 for a kilo in December 2024, closing at Sh166.08 in March.
Sugar prices increased from Sh161.34 to Sh166.45 for a kilo from January to February, before dropping marginally in March, Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) data on consumer prices show.
KNBS’ leading economic indicators for February 2025 also show that cane deliveries to factories during the month dropped slightly compared to January. The 816,630 metric tonnes of cane delivered to factories in February was a 1.3 percent drop from the 827,480 metric tonnes delivered in January, KNBS data shows.
January and February have, however, had the highest records of cane delivered to factories since July 2024.
Domestic sugar production in the first two months of 2025 is the highest over similar first two months of the year going back six years and builds on a trend that started last year when Kenya had a sugar production of 815,454 metric tonnes.
The growth in sugar production is being witnessed at a time when the government has been on a drive to support the industry, with various initiatives in a sector that was almost crippling.
The government has in recent months written off Sh117 billion in debts that burdened the sector, including debts to farmers and workers at sugar mills, using taxpayer funds to revive the industry.
“Kenya is on course to attain surplus production and commence regional exports by 2027, turning sugarcane cultivation into a viable and rewarding venture,” President William Ruto said in January during a tour of the Western region.
Despite the growth in sugar production, the country is however yet to satisfy domestic demand of a million tonnes.
