Facts And Figures
Sugar Industry Statistical Information
The Facts and Figures of the sugar industry provide statistical information and seasonal comparisons of the Total Cane/Sugar Production, Crop Data, Sugarcane Crushed by Mills, SA Sugar Supplies into the SACU Market and Recoverable Value and Cane Prices.
Total Cane/Sugar Production
The Total Cane/Sugar Production table provides a season by season comparison of sugar produced. It also provides insight on the quantity of sugar consumed nationally and the quantity of sugar sold on the international market.
Sugar Cane Crushed by Mills (tons)
The Sugarcane Crushed by Mills table provides information on the total amount of sugarcane crushed by South African mills.
Crop Data and Recoverable Value
The Crop Data table provides a seasonal comparison of the total crop area under sugarcane. The Recoverable Value (RV) and Cane Prices table provides a seasonal comparison of the RV determined price.
The Crop Estimates for 2025/2026
| November 2025 Crop Estimate | Cane Crush | Saleable Sugar Production |
|---|---|---|
| The crop estimate is as follows: | 17 268 145 tons | 1 944 899 tons |
Direct Employment
Direct employment within the sugar industry is approximately 65 000 jobs, which represents a significant percentage of the total agricultural workforce in South Africa. Indirect employment is estimated at 270 000. In addition there are 25 000 registered cane growers. Approximately one million people, more than 2% of South Africa’s population, depend on the sugar industry for a living.
