SA sugar growers urge action against unfair trade practices impacting industry

SA Canegrowers has cautioned once again that the local industry was facing many challenges, not least of which is the increasing risk local growers face from unfair global trade practices.

- YOGASHEN PILLAY

Higgins Mdluli, SA Canegrowers chairman, last week said foreign sugar was currently entering South Africa at prices below the cost of production and below the global sugar price, owing to some foreign governments either heavily subsidising their industries or countries dumping their excess sugar at a loss.

Mdluli said for every ton of imported sugar, local sugarcane growers lose R6 000 in income and jobs were imperilled.

According to Mdluli, local sugarcane growers were unable to compete with such unfairly subsidised imports, particularly at a time when the industry was also facing a host of other challenges including unpredictable weather patterns, mill closures, and the sugar tax.