IVORY COAST – Sucrerie Africaine (SUCAF-CI), a subsidiary of the French group SOMDIAA, has laid the foundation stone for its new distillery in Ferkessédougou, Ivory Coast.
The new facility, which represents an investment of 18 billion FCFA (approximately US$29.8 million), is expected to begin operations by March 2026, with a production target of 12 million liters of extra-neutral alcohol (AEN) per year.
This ethanol, containing at least 96% alcohol by volume, will meet the industrial demand of the local market, marking a significant diversification for the company beyond its established sugar production activities.
“We are working to ensure that Côte d’Ivoire gradually achieves food self-sufficiency while offering quality products,” stated Anthony Ahiaba, SUCAF-CI’s General Manager.
The new distillery will rely on molasses, a by-product of sugar manufacturing, sourced from SUCAF-CI’s two sugar factories in Ferkessédougou to support its production processes.
The venture comes amid positive forecasts for Ivory Coast’s alcoholic beverage market, with sales expected to reach US$2.8 billion in 2024 and grow annually by 3.75percent through 2029, according to Statista projections.
SUCAF-CI also recently launched its 2024/2025 sugar campaign with a goal of producing over 127,000 tonnes of sugar.
The company operates more than 14,600 hectares of sugarcane plantations and has the capacity to harvest 1,350,000 tons of cane annually across its two production sites, yielding over 135,000 tons of sugar.
Its flagship brand, “Princesse Tatie,” has become a staple in the Ivorian market, reinforcing SUCAF-CI’s commitment to bolstering the country’s sugar industry while expanding into new product lines.
Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World HERE
