SA faces sugar shortage as local producers hit ‘slight supply dip’
CAPE TOWN – INDUSTRIAL buyers of refined sugar say there has been no production of the condiment in the market since the beginning of this month.
The Association of Southern Africa Sugar Importers (Asasi) chairperson and Super Syrups founder Chris Engelbrecht told Business Report this week that Tongaat Hulett confirmed on March 26 to Super Syrups that it could draw on their quota, but was told on March 31 that Tongaat’s mills were being shut down for a few weeks and the first supply would be available only on May 1.
“Now they have confirmed it won’t be before the end of May. It is already too late for us to import what we need to make up for the delay,” said Engelbrecht.
He said Ilovo, RCL and Gledhow did not have sugar to supply Super Syrups or any other industry now or in the near future, and the supply of imported sugar from Swaziland had also shut down.
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