Kenya’s sugar imports surge 130% in January 2025 

KENYA – Kenya’s sugar imports more than doubled in January 2025 compared to December last year, driven by a sharp increase in industrial sugar demand for the production of soft drinks, chewing gum, and confectionery products. 

According to data from the Kenya Sugar Board (KSB), sugar imports rose by 129.59 percent to 32,517 metric tonnes (MT) in January, up from 14,163 MT in December 2024.  

Of this total, brown sugar imports amounted to 10,380 MT, with a cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) value of Kes 89,394 per tonne, while white refined sugar accounted for 22,138 MT at a CIF value of Kes 100,000 per tonne. 

The report also revealed that domestic sugarcane milling saw a 30 percent increase, with 827,482 MT processed in January, up from 637,276 MT in December 2024. 

However, closing stocks for milled sugar slightly declined to 9,653 MT at the end of January from 10,605 MT the previous month. 

The rise in imports and local sugar production coincided with an upward trend in sugar prices. The average retail price of sugar rose to Kes 157 per kilogram in January from Kes 149 in December 2024.  

Meanwhile, wholesale sugar prices increased by 9 percent, reaching Kes 7,177 per 50kg bag from Kes 6,568 in the previous month. 

Despite the price increase, sugarcane prices remained unchanged at Kes 5,000 per tonne in January 2025. However, this rate is set to rise to Kes 5,300 (US$40.97) per tonne from February 10, 2025, following a directive from the Interim Sugarcane Pricing Committee.  

Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Rono confirmed the price adjustment as part of the government’s efforts to revamp the sugar industry. 

To support farmers, the government recently issued bonuses to sugarcane growers in Mumias, marking the first-ever annual payout under a new initiative launched by President William Ruto.  

The program aims to improve farmers’ earnings and align their benefits with those in the tea and coffee sub-sectors. 

In a broader effort to strengthen the sugar sector, the government is expanding sugarcane farming beyond Western Kenya and developing a centralized farmer database using Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping.  

This system will facilitate smart contracting, ensuring efficient allocation of sugarcane fields to mills. 

Additionally, the National Treasury has allocated Kes 600 million to the Kenya Sugar Research and Training Institute (KESRETI) for developing high-quality sugarcane varieties.  

Further, the government has committed to revitalizing five state-owned sugar companies by clearing Kes 67 billion (US$518.4 million) in debts and settling outstanding farmer payments. 

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.