South African Customs Union statistics

The South African Customs Union (SACU) market is of major significance for both the South African and Swaziland sugar industries. During the season, total sales into SACU amounted to 1.926 million tons, about 80% being refined sugar and the balance brown sugar. The South African sugar industry supplied 1.427 million tons, Swaziland 320 000 tons and Zimbabwe and other Southern African Development Community (SADC) sugar producing countries 51 000 tons. Duty-paid imports amounted to 132 000 tons of sugar.

Total cane production in the SACU region amounted to 24.2 million tons, slightly lower than that of the previous season due primarily to weather related factors.

The export availability of both Swaziland and South Africa was again marginally reduced due to increased domestic sales.