South Africa is set for a record sugar crop of 2,755-million tons, up 177 tons from the previous estimate of 2,754-million tons, according to the latest estimate by the South African Sugar Association (Sasa) released on Monday.
The reason for the record South African sugar crop is the good rainfall during the season as well as the new sucrose payment system, which has incentivised sugarcane farmers to producer better quality cane.
The previous record South African sugar crop was 2,721-million tons produced in the 2000/01 sugar season. Sasa estimated the sugar cane crush at 23,013-million tons, up 27 tons from the association’s previous estimate of 23,012-million tons.
The current 2002/03-sugar crop is currently estimated 15% higher than the previous season’s output of 2,403-million tons.
The reason for the increase in the 2002/03 crop is favourable rainfall over most of South Africa’s sugar growing area. South Africa is the world’s tenth largest sugar producer and sixth biggest exporter. – I-Net Bridge