REGIONAL SUGAR production for March this year has decreased compared to the same period last year.
The Sugar Association of the Caribbean (SAC) reported last month that at the end of March, its six member-countries had milled 138,062 tonnes of sugar bringing the total amount of sugar produced in the region for the current crop to 497,446 tonnes compared to 521,336 tonnes at the end of March 2003.
Top regional producers, Guyana and Jamaica, recorded 51,003 and 41,921 tonnes respectively, bringing their year-to-date tonnage to 268,559 and 119,652 tonnes.
Jamaica was also the lead exporter for March, having shipped 44,511 tonnes of Protocol sugar to Europe, followed by Guyana with 25,745 tonnes to Europe and countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Belize was next with 13,248 tonnes to the United States, CARICOM and the World Market. Trinidad was the only other exporter with 12,500 tonnes to the EU.
"Although the EURO has weakened somewhat against the U.S. currency, this has not deterred the Caribbean exporters, as they are still getting over USD 600 CIF per tonne for sugar exported to Europe" said Karl James, chairman of the SAC.
"The price in the U.S. market is considered soft because there is plenty of sugar available now to the refiners. However, the industry continues to make an invaluable contribution to the economies of the Caribbean producing countries", James added.
