Tanzania Reverse Sugar Import Ban

The government of Tanzania has reversed a ban on sugar imports after just one week. While the country’s annual demand stands at around 670,000 tonnes, domestic production is less than half of that at 320,000.

Setting out the reasons for the change of direction Minister for Agriculture Japhet Hasunga stated “We are now satisfied with the companies’ strategic plans to increase sugar production and that is why we have decided to allow them to supply and import sugar for domestic consumption.”

Hasunga also confirmed that current stocks would last until May. He said he was hopeful that domestic sugar output would increase with the completion of Mkulazi Sugar and Bakhresa Group’s Bagamoyo factory, which are expected to add capacity for the productions of 250,000 and 100,000 respectively.