(Ecofin Agency) - In Kenya, the government just imported 5,000 tons of sugar in order to mitigate the fall in price of the commodity as stocks of local refineries decreased.

4,000 tons of sugar is stored across the country. This is half the minimum level required, knowingly 8,000 tons. According to the director general of the Agriculture, food and fishery authority, Alfred Busolo, these imports are a mitigation measure initiated as sugar’s price soared to Sh4,700 from Sh4,075 per 50kg.

The expected sugar shortage is mainly due to troubles in the functioning of local refineries, which led to a drop in production, a delay in harvest and in the payment of sugar cane farmers. While Kenya produces 630,000 tons of sugar yearly, consumption is at 900,000 tons. The deficit is plugged by imports from countries of the Common market of Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa).

To preserve its industry against rivals from these countries, Kenya decided, in January 2016, to cut by 20% its sugar imports.

Aaron Akinocho