A monthly report by the Sugar Directorate shows the average price in the period under review was Sh145 per kilo compared with Sh108 the previous year.
A kilo of local branded sugar traded at Sh187 while the imported sweetener was retailing at Sh193.
Total sugar sales in the review period were 186,767 tonnes from 274,986 tonnes sold in the same period last year, representing a decrease of 32 per cent.
Consumer prices of sugar rose 34 per cent in the first five months of this year compared with the same period in 2016.
A monthly report by the Sugar Directorate shows the average price in the period under review was Sh145 per kilo compared with Sh108 the previous year.
This price is an average for loose sugar; normally referred to as local=branded, and the imported sweetener.
“High prices resulted from low local production because of insufficient cane to mill,” says the report.
In May this year a kilo of local sugar traded at Sh176 while the imported variety retailed at Sh173.
A kilo of local branded sugar traded at Sh187 while the imported sweetener was retailing at Sh193.
The report notes that in the period the sugar industry witnessed a 34 per cent decrease in production reaching 186,186 tonnes compared with 284,028 tonnes achieved in the same period last year.
“Sugar production has been on a decreasing trend throughout this year. Low commodity production is attributed to the prevailing cane shortage in most zones coupled with under-performance at Mumias Sugar Company #ticker:MSC ,” the report says.
Total sugar sales in the review period were 186,767 tonnes from 274,986 tonnes sold in the same period last year, representing a decrease of 32 per cent.
Closing stocks held by all sugar factories at the end of May was 2,707 tonnes against 7,723 tonnes recorded in May 2016.
Sugar prices have, however, recently started falling to below Sh300 for the 2kg packet in some supermarkets on increased imports.
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