Sweet money coming in for 2023 sugar crop

By Emmanuel Joseph

Barbados is expected to rake in some $6.8 million in revenue from packaged sugar exports to the United States and Trinidad this year, even as the island moves to increase its quotas to those markets for 2024 on the back of a “sweeter” 2023 crop.

With projections of an even bigger sugar output next season, the Barbados Agricultural Management Company (BAMC) also revealed on Wednesday that the overseas demand for Bajan-branded sugar is increasing and that the company will pursue another price hike for its exports.

Just days before the official start of this year’s crop in late February, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Indar Weir disclosed that Barbados had succeeded in securing a price hike of around $1 500 to $1 700 per tonne for its sugar sales, up from $900 per tonne.

On Wednesday, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the BAMC Orlando Atherley disclosed that Barbados was contracted to sell 1 500 tonnes of packaged sugar per year to the USA and 2 500 tonnes to Trinidad.

He said that as the output of sugar builds, the country will be looking to expand exports primarily to other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) states in the coming years.

Atherley said the island was on its way to achieving that growth, having recorded a 36 per cent improvement in sugar production this harvest.

In an update on this year’s sugar crop which ended in early June, the CEO said it was too early to supply production figures for the next season, but gave the undertaking that the BAMC will spare no effort to ensure the island is consistent in providing high-quality sugar for local and foreign consumption.

“All the sugar from last year’s crop has already been contracted, but as we build up cane supply, we are looking to expand. But our focus will be on the region. All things being equal, we are looking for another increase next year. Once we continue to increase production, we will expand to other markets. We already maxed out on the domestic market,” he told Barbados TODAY in an interview.

“Trinidad still has a lot more opportunities. That is evident by the requests that we get. There is also, for the existing customers, a request to increase the price. So we are likely to increase the quota to Trinidad and the US.”

Atherley announced that this year, Barbados harvested some 109 493 tonnes of cane.

“Compared to last year, we produced 15 per cent more cane, but we produced 36 per cent more sugar over last year. We produced 7 048 tonnes of molasses and we produced 6 848 tonnes of sugar,” the BAMC chief reported.

He also disclosed that the usually contentious issue of payment to small private cane farmers has been settled.

“We paid the farmers, we don’t owe the farmers…. The farmers are up to date. You know, there is always an issue with the farmers, but as of today’s date, they are up to date,” he said.

Chairman of the Barbados Sugar Industry Limited (BSIL) Mark Sealy confirmed on Wednesday night that the payments had been made.  However, Sealy, whose organisation represents the private cane farmers, told Barbados TODAY that there were other payments to be made at specific periods between July and September.

“We get a first payment, which is $100 per tonne for delivery of cane. That was…it was a little bit behind, but that was for week 11 to week 14…. That was paid last week. So it’s all up to date,” he said.

“Our next payment is on July 31, which is $50 per tonne. So that’s going to be important that the Government makes that line payment. The final payment is on September 30… which could range between $30 to $40.”

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb