SA’s struggling sugar industry has received a major boost after the signing of a master plan which, among other goals, aims to increase demand for locally grown and manufactured sugar.
The industry generates an income of about R14bn a year and is responsible for at least 350,000 jobs. However, it has been on the brink of collapse in recent times due to several headwinds, including a drop in sales volumes, partly due to the sugar tax , falling prices, and stiff competition from cheap imports, mainly from Brazil.