Executive Summary:
With the completion of the privatization of Jamaica's Sugar industry in 2011, sugar production has remained flat while,export destinations are based on international prices and more sugar will be used domestically. For the sugar crop 2011/2012 Jamaica did not fulfill its sugar quota to the U.S. Furthermore, Jamaica is not expected to fulfill its sugar quota to the U.S. for the sugar crop 2012/2013. Jamaica will consume more of its own production and rely less on imports. It should be noted that for the 2011/2012 sugar crop, Jamaica exported 103,168 MT of raw sugar valued at USD 97 million. The European Union (EU) accounted for this entire amount due to the high price that the EU offered.
The 2012/2013 crop is projected to produce about 140,000 MT of raw sugar – a marginally higher volume than the previous year.Jamaica is expected to use its production to fulfill its commitments to Britain's Tate& Lyle Limited and Sucres & Denress.The remaining sugar production will be used to supply the domestic market. In addition, the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) policy includes strategies for the diversification of the industry to embrace cogeneration and the production of ethanol, rum and specialty sugar.
Consumption of raw and refined sugar in Jamaica has remained relatively flat over the last three years and is expected to
remain flat until the economy improves.
