Sugar production to rise to resolve crisis

Egypt plans to produce about 140,000 tonnes of sugar during the ongoing season of local sugar beet supply, aiming to put an end to the long-standing sugar crisis affecting the country.

The Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade has announced that it has commenced the reception of sugar beet crops from farmers at the Abu Qurqas sugar factory, one of Egypt’s major sugar production facilities located in the Minya governorate of Upper Egypt.

The ministry aims to receive nearly 1 million tonnes of sugar beet throughout the current season, which extends until August.

During this season, farmers have cultivated around 600,000 tonnes of sugar beet in various governorates.

Essam El-Din El-Bedewy, Chairman of the ministry-affiliated Egyptian Sugar and Integrated Industries Company (ESIIC), said that the sugar crisis will be resolved within the next two weeks as sugar production from sugar beet increases across various factories.

El-Bedewy stated that the Abu Qurqas factory aims to produce 70,000 tonnes of sugar annually for the state, 35,000 tonnes for other parties, 30,000 tonnes of beet fodder for export, and 40 million litres of alcohol.

New incentives

To encourage farmers, the Ministry of Supply has announced additional incentives per ton of sugar beet delivered to state-owned factories.

Farmers who supplied sugar beet to the factories from March 1 to 15 received LE1900 per ton, including a new incentive of LE400 per tonne.

Moreover, farmers supplying sugar beet to the state until the end of March will receive LE1750 per ton, including an additional incentive of LE350.

Farmers supplying sugar beet from April 1 to 15 will receive LE 1600 per ton, including LE300 in incentives, and those supplying from mid-April to the end of April will receive LE1450 per ton, including LE 250 in incentives.

From May 1 until the end of the season, farmers will supply sugar beet to the state for LE1350, including LE250 in incentives.

Many experts attribute the sugar shortage to the limited supply from factories and producers, as well as potential hoarding practices.

In December, Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli designated sugar, along with six other commodities, as strategic goods, imposing a ban on withholding these products.