Ministry of Agriculture says Belizean sugar should hit shelves early next month

By Zoila Palma Gonzalez: The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise has issued a statement clarifying the sugar situation.

“As there was an imminent shortage in the stocks of sugar normally available due to the high demand of the Christmas season in 2023, the Ministry reached out to Santander to verify whether they had any stock of sugar available to alleviate the shortage as early as September 2023. Santander was very clear that they did not have any sugar available. As a result, the Government of Belize took the short-term measure of allowing the importation of sugar to ensure that there was sugar on the shelves for the Christmas season,” the Ministry explained.

The Ministry noted that the sugar stock that had been imported has been distributed and is expected to be depleted by the end of next week.

The Ministry says that the cane season harvest has started and we should have Belizean sugar on our shelves in February and prices for sugar will return to normal. 

“With reference to Santander being allowed to access the local market, Santander Sugar Group’s operations are governed by the Designated Processing Area Act, which limits the sale of their production to export markets. Local market access would need to be provided for through a special dispensation,” the Ministry further explained.

The Ministry says that during the course of the current sugar crop, the Ministry will engage both BSI and Santander to ensure that a shortage of white and/or brown sugar on the local market does not occur again.

The Ministry reiterated its readiness to discuss these issues and others relating to how the lives and livelihoods of Belizean citizens are affected and supports both farmers and investors as we continue building the Belizean economy.

 

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