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Kenya in East Africa, sharing borders with South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and Somalia, has been emerging as a crucial importer of sugar in the international trade market. The country has faced a severe sugarcane shortage, driving the necessity for duty-free sugar imports. Kenya Export Data says that the immature cane ban in 2024 and the stronger rainfall have affected the monthly production. The restrictions imposed by the exporters and the global shortage have led Kenya to face supply risk and higher import prices. Tight international markets and the limitations on sugar exports by India have forced Kenya to rely heavily on costly suppliers like Uganda and Zambia for its domestic sugar imports.
The rising domestic consumption, currency depreciation, and inflation due to the weakening of the Kenyan shilling have resulted in an import trade value of sugar worth 458 million US dollars in 2024. The increased incentive to import and the rising strategies of top trade partners have been affecting the trade fluctuation. Subscribe to Import Globals, an import-export trade provider, to stay updated with the latest information on the sugar import of Kenya via the Kenya trade data.
POLICY REFORMS SUPPORTING THE IMPORT OF SUGAR IN KENYA IN 2024
The extension of the duty-free sugar import window under EAC has enabled the emergency import in Kenya during a specified sugar shortage. This initiative has allowed the traders to put up to 50,000 tons of white or brown sugar with zero import duties. It has stabilized the retail prices. The FIM-specific tariff rate quotas for manufacturing companies have effectively lowered the production cost for industrial users at a 10% duty rate. It has also improved the price competitiveness and ensured the availability of sugar for industrial processing as per the acquisition.
Implementation of the sugar safeguard mechanism with the COMESA trade rule has provided assurance of legal import of sugar beyond normal quotas. This initiative was structured by the government authorities to help the small and medium enterprises overcome the supply shortages via the facilitation of compliant imports during the period of crisis. The sugar sector reforms via the Sugar Act 2024 were introduced by the government authorities for the improvement of the industry’s efficiency. This initiative has reduced the cost of foreign trade and has also led to stability and calibration of the import levels to match the trade deficit management as per the global standards.
THE LEADING VARIANTS OF SUGAR IMPORTED IN KENYA IN 2024
The use of sugar in different food and beverage industries and the global reference of the specific commodity in their authentic cuisines have driven the import of sugar in Kenya in 2024. As per the Kenya Import Data, the top 10 leading variants of sugar imported in Kenya in 2024 are,
White Refined Sugar — The annual valuation of White Refined Sugar imported in Kenya in 2024–87 million US dollars
Mill White sugar– The annual valuation of Mill White sugar imported in Kenya in 2024–76 million US dollars
Very High Polarity (VHP) Raw Sugar — The annual valuation of Very High Polarity (VHP) Raw Sugar imported in Kenya in 2024–62 million US dollars
Standard Raw Cane Sugar– The annual valuation of Standard Raw Cane Sugar imported in Kenya in 2024–58 million US dollars
Table Sugar– The annual valuation of Table Sugar imported in Kenya in 2024–49 million US dollars
ICUMSA 45 White Sugar– The annual valuation of ICUMSA 45 White Sugar imported in Kenya in 2024–38 million US dollars
Bakery/Soft Drink Sugar — The annual valuation of Bakery/Soft Drink Sugar imported in Kenya in 2024–32 million US dollars
Brown Sugar– The annual valuation of Brown Sugar imported in Kenya in 2024–29 million US dollars
Industrial-use Refined Sugar– The annual valuation of Industrial-use Refined Sugar imported in Kenya in 2024–22 million US dollars
Organic Cane Sugar– The annual valuation of Organic Cane Sugar imported in Kenya in 2024–16 million US dollars
THE TOP 10 IMPORT TRADE PARTNERS OF KENYA FOR SUGAR IN 2024
To maintain stability in the specific import of sugar as per the growing consumer-based demand, Kenya has built up supply chain integration with topmost suppliers. According to the Kenya Customs Data, the top 10 import trade partners of the nation for sugar in 2024 are,
China — The total trade value of sugar imported in Kenya from China in 2024–91 million US dollars
Top 5 variants of sugar imported
1. Tea Sugar Cubes
2. Bar Sugar
3. Snow Cone Sugar
4. Lemonade Sugar
5. Cocktail Sugar
United Arab Emirates — The total trade value of sugar imported in Kenya from the United Arab Emirates in 2024–83 million US dollars
Top 5 variants of sugar imported
1. Mauritius Sugar
2. South African Brown Sugar
3. Colombian Organic Sugar
4. Philippines Muscovado
5. Fiji Plantation Sugar
India — The total trade value of sugar imported in Kenya from India in 2024–76 million US dollars
Top 5 variants of sugar imported
1. Rice Sugar
2. Sweet Potato Sugar
3. Candy Sugar
4. Rock Sugar
5. Coffee Sugar
Saudi Arabia — The total trade value of sugar imported in Kenya from Saudi Arabia in 2024–68 million US dollars
Top 5 variants of sugar imported
1. Wet Raw Sugar
2. Natural Cane Sugar
3. Light Brown Sugar
4. Dark Brown Sugar
5. Soft Brown Sugar
Malaysia — The total trade value of sugar imported in Kenya from Malaysia in 2024–54 million US dollars
Top 5 variants of sugar imported
1. Washed Raw Sugar
2. Crystal Raw Sugar
3. Golden Granulated Sugar
4. Coffee Crystal Sugar
5. Crystallized Sugar
United States — The total trade value of sugar imported in Kenya from United States in 2024–49 million US dollars
Top 5 variants of sugar imported
1. Quick-Dissolve Sugar
2. Sanding Sugar
3. Raw Cane Sugar
4. Plantation White Sugar
5. Mill White Sugar
Japan — The total trade value of sugar imported in Kenya from Japan in 2024–38 million US dollars
Top 5 variants of sugar imported
1. Icing Sugar
2. Confectioners’ Sugar
3. Powdered Sugar
4. Snow Sugar
5. Baking Sugar
South Africa — The total trade value of sugar imported in Kenya from South Africa in 2024–32 million US dollars
Top 5 variants of sugar imported
1. Industrial-Grade Sugar
2. Brewing Sugar
3. Table Sugar
4. Caster Sugar
5. Superfine Sugar
Russia — The total trade value of sugar imported in Kenya from Russia in 2024–28 million US dollars
Top 5 variants of sugar imported
1. Invert Sugar Syrup
2. Liquid Glucose
3. High Fructose Corn Syrup
4. Pharmaceutical-Grade Sugar
5. Food-Grade Sugar
Egypt — The total trade value of sugar imported in Kenya from Egypt in 2024–22 million US dollars
Top 5 variants of sugar imported
1. Refined Granulated Sugar
2. Extra Fine Granulated Sugar
3. Coarse Granulated Sugar
4. Fine Grain Sugar
5. Liquid Refined Sugar
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