Kenya’s sugar production increased by 56.7 per cent in the first nine months of 2026, easing pressure on imports and contributing to a decline in retail prices as the country moves towards achieving self-sufficiency and exploring export opportunities.
Data from the Kenya Sugar Board shows that local sugar factories produced 690,521 tonnes between January and September 2026, compared with 440,652 tonnes recorded during the same period last year.
The increase of 249,869 tonnes coincided with a reduction in the national average retail price of sugar, which dropped to KSh155 per kilogram in September 2026 from KSh171 in September 2025.
The improved production translated into a KSh32 reduction in the equivalent cost of two kilograms of sugar, which declined from KSh342 to KSh310, offering some relief to households facing persistent cost-of-living pressures.
The growth in output has also strengthened Kenya’s prospects of reducing dependence on imported sugar while creating opportunities for local manufacturers to explore regional and international markets.
Kenya Sugar Board Chief Executive Officer Jude Chesire said the country was positioning itself to build production surpluses that could support exports and attract investment into the sugar industry.
“Kenya by next year will start building surpluses for exports and requires such a platform to create new markets,” Chesire said.
The country is targeting sugar production of 900,000 tonnes against an estimated annual consumption of one million tonnes, compared with approximately 650,000 tonnes produced last year.
The improved performance has been supported by increased sugarcane deliveries to local factories, which processed 7.76 million tonnes during the first nine months of 2026.
This represented a 56.2 per cent increase from the 4.97 million tonnes processed during a similar period in 2025.
The higher domestic output has coincided with a significant reduction in sugar imports, which declined by approximately 31 per cent to 251,690 tonnes between January and September 2026, down from 364,486 tonnes recorded during the corresponding period last year.
Imports of mill white and brown sugar recorded the sharpest decline, falling by about 71 per cent to 65,845 tonnes from 226,730 tonnes.
However, refined white sugar imports increased to 158,006 tonnes from 137,756 tonnes, highlighting the continued need to expand local refining and processing capacity to meet different market requirements.
Meanwhile, cumulative sales by local millers increased by 45.6 per cent to 635,672 tonnes, compared with 436,593 tonnes during the first nine months of 2025.
Sugar stocks at the end of September also increased significantly to 70,773 tonnes from 14,033 tonnes recorded a year earlier, providing the country with a stronger supply buffer.
Beyond improving domestic production, Kenya is seeking to expand its influence in the international sugar industry through its participation in the International Sugar Organization (ISO).
Chesire, who chairs the ISO Council, recently helped break a leadership deadlock at the organisation following unsuccessful attempts by member states to agree on a new Executive Director.
The stalemate emerged after three rounds of voting failed to produce a candidate who could secure the required two-thirds majority.
Following consultations initiated by Chesire, member states agreed that Mauritius’ Devesh Devani would serve the first four-year term, followed by Brazil’s Eduardo Leão de Sousa for the subsequent four years.
The agreement followed inconclusive voting on September 22, 2026, with Kenya using its leadership position to encourage consensus among member countries.
The country is also seeking to leverage its international position to advance discussions on export markets, investment, ethanol production and modern sugar-processing technologies.
Another emerging opportunity lies in the production of ethanol and biofuels using molasses, a by-product of sugar manufacturing.
“Conversations are now building up towards biofuels and ethanol production,” Chesire said, noting that Kenya had initiated discussions and was seeking to benchmark its plans against established producers.
Brazil is among the countries Kenya hopes to learn from, particularly in developing ethanol production and expanding the commercial value of sugarcane.
The opportunity is supported by growing domestic molasses output, which increased by 62.1 per cent to 307,617 tonnes between January and September 2026, compared with 189,809 tonnes during the same period last year.
Molasses stocks also rose to 65,384 tonnes at the end of September, up from 12,735 tonnes a year earlier, creating additional potential for investment in downstream processing.
Despite the gains in production, Kenya’s sugar exports remain relatively modest.
The country exported 315.57 tonnes between January and September 2026, compared with 244.80 tonnes during the corresponding period in 2025.
The production growth, declining imports and rising factory sales point to improving performance in the domestic sugar industry, although further investment in refining, processing technology and alternative sugarcane products will be important in unlocking its export potential.
