Trade Ministry Allays Fears of Sugar Shortage In Cameroon

           

There have have persistent rumors about the impending shortage of refined sugar in the country, a shortage which is being rumored to hit the country during the peak period of Ramadan in June 2015. But the ministry of Trade has put these unfounded rumors to rest.

Let me provide some background information on this whole shortage issue. In 2014, the Cameroon government limited the importation of refined sugar to 50,000 tonnes, down from 90,000 tonnes.This move is meant to protect the local sugar industry.But it did not sit well with importers. Keep reading..

Presently, world sugar prices have plummeted, whetting the appetite of importers, because, cheaper imported sugar would fetch them whopping profits. This often leads to unorthodox practices such as hoarding and speculation, in anticipation of peak periods. Consequently, this gives birth to rumors about the insufficiency of locally refined sugar.

To put an end to these rumors, an inter-ministerial team, comprising officials of the ministries of Trade, and of Mines, Industries, and Technological Development, yesterday March 25, 2015, visited the nation's sole sugar manufacturer, SOSUCAM, which runs two adjacent factories in Mbanjock and Nkoteng, in the Centre Region, to assess the availability of existing stocks. 

What did they find? The company produces 800 tonnes daily. They have an existing stock of 46,000 tonnes and are expected to produce between 125,000 to 130,000 tonnes this year.

Now, national demand is roughly 180,000 tonnes, but the inter-ministerial mission didn't seem concerned by this disparity between production and demand. The delegation leader, a top official at the Ministry of Trade, Mbarga Bihina Martin ,stated that national production, plus the authorized 50,000 tonnes of imported sugar, is sufficient to feed national demand. 

The question of why sugar prices in Cameroon remain fixed, even when world prices have nose-dived, arose. The response by the officials, was with a question: whether Cameroonians would want to see the prices of sugar increase if and when world prices also rise. 

Worthy of note thus, the prices of sugar will stay at the homolated prices of FCFA 700 per kilogram of sugar cubes, and FCFA 650 per kilogram of granulated sugar. 
Noticed any shortage of sugar, or difference with the prices stated above? Pray tell.