> In 2023 South Africa produced 2.1 million t of raw sugar, the 17th largest in the world (1.11% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 15%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/south-africa/

[Home](https://husfarm.com/)›[Production](https://husfarm.com/production/)›[Raw sugar](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/)›South AfricaFAOSTAT · 1961–2023

# Raw sugar production in South Africa

In 2023 South Africa produced 2.1 million t of raw sugar, the 17th largest in the world (1.11% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 15%. The record was 2.9 million t in 1997.

[Today’s prices](https://husfarm.com/today-price/sugar/)[Market prices in South Africa](https://husfarm.com/country/south-africa/)

Production, 20232.1 million t
World rank17 of 121
10-year change−15%
Record2.9 million t1997

## Raw sugar in South Africa, 1961–2023 (tonnes)

## South Africa compared with the world, 2023

Share of world total1.1%1.4% in 2013
10-year change−15%world +4.4%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 15 | [Guatemala](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/guatemala/) | 2,548,296 | 1.4% |
| 16 | [Indonesia](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/indonesia/) | 2,271,009 | 1.2% |
| 17 | **South Africa** | 2,075,000 | 1.1% |
| 18 | [Philippines](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/philippines/) | 2,000,000 | 1.1% |
| 19 | [Colombia](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/colombia/) | 1,957,103 | 1.0% |

[Full ranking of 121 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/)

### Map of world production of raw sugar

under 0.1%0.1–1%1–5%5–15%15% or moreno data
Share of the world total; South Africa is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.

## By year

| Year | Tonnes | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2023 | 2,075,000 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 2,042,000 | +7.1% |
| 2021 | 1,906,000 | −9.5% |
| 2020 | 2,106,000 | −8.2% |
| 2019 | 2,295,000 | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 2,258,000 | +9.4% |
| 2017 | 2,064,000 | +28% |
| 2016 | 1,607,000 | −4.6% |
| 2015 | 1,684,000 | −23% |
| 2014 | 2,192,000 | −10.0% |
| 2013 | 2,435,000 | +34% |
| 2012 | 1,822,000 | −7.1% |
| 2011 | 1,961,000 | −10% |
| 2010 | 2,187,542 | −3.6% |
| 2009 | 2,269,000 | −0.5% |
| 2008 | 2,281,000 | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 2,235,000 | −4.4% |
| 2006 | 2,337,903 | −6.8% |
| 2005 | 2,507,415 | +12% |
| 2004 | 2,234,300 | −12% |
| 2003 | 2,545,800 | −3.1% |
| 2002 | 2,626,000 | +4.9% |
| 2001 | 2,504,000 | −8.2% |
| 2000 | 2,729,000 | +7.6% |
| 1999 | 2,536,000 | −4.2% |
| 1998 | 2,646,000 | −9.2% |
| 1997 | 2,914,000 | +28% |
| 1996 | 2,269,000 | +36% |
| 1995 | 1,666,916 | −0.1% |
| 1994 | 1,667,920 | +42% |
| 1993 | 1,171,820 | −22% |
| 1992 | 1,508,300 | −34% |
| 1991 | 2,289,000 | +13% |
| 1990 | 2,028,000 | −5.1% |
| 1989 | 2,137,000 | −13% |
| 1988 | 2,469,000 | +10% |
| 1987 | 2,235,000 | −0.6% |
| 1986 | 2,248,000 | −1.4% |
| 1985 | 2,280,000 | −11% |
| 1984 | 2,560,000 | +71% |
| 1983 | 1,495,000 | −35% |
| 1982 | 2,304,000 | +3.9% |
| 1981 | 2,218,000 | +28% |
| 1980 | 1,737,000 | −16% |
| 1979 | 2,078,795 | −0.2% |
| 1978 | 2,082,514 | −0.1% |
| 1977 | 2,083,877 | +2.1% |
| 1976 | 2,041,520 | +13% |
| 1975 | 1,801,088 | −4.4% |
| 1974 | 1,883,195 | +8.8% |
| 1973 | 1,731,575 | −9.6% |
| 1972 | 1,914,601 | +2.7% |
| 1971 | 1,864,664 | +33% |
| 1970 | 1,398,872 | −14% |
| 1969 | 1,622,499 | +7.8% |
| 1968 | 1,505,382 | −17% |
| 1967 | 1,822,266 | +12% |
| 1966 | 1,627,581 | +79% |
| 1965 | 909,000 | −28% |
| 1964 | 1,266,000 | +10% |
| 1963 | 1,148,000 | +6.1% |
| 1962 | 1,082,000 | +8.5% |
| 1961 | 997,000 | — |

## Trade, 2024

Exports465,728 t USD 272 m
Exporter rank7 of 111
Imports443,961 t USD 249 m
Importer rank20 of 183
FAOSTAT detailed trade data, release of 23 July 2026; quantities in tonnes, values in current US dollars; exports include re-exports. [World exporters and importers](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/)

## Questions and answers

### What is the production of raw sugar in South Africa?

South Africa produced 2.1 million t in 2023, 1.1% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

### Where does South Africa rank in the world for production of raw sugar?

South Africa ranked 17th of 121 countries in 2023. The largest producer was Brazil with 22.4% of the world total.

### How has the production of raw sugar in South Africa changed?

It fell by 15% between 2013 and 2023, compared with +4.4% for the world. The record was 2.9 million t in 1997.

### Does South Africa export or import raw cane or beet sugar (centrifugal only)?

In 2024 South Africa reported exports of 465,728 t (USD 272 m) and imports of 443,961 t (USD 249 m), according to FAOSTAT trade data.

### Where does this data come from?

From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.

## Other large producers

[Brazil](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/brazil/)[India](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/india/)[Thailand](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/thailand/)[China](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/china/)[United States](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/united-states/)[Pakistan](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/pakistan/)[Russia](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/russia/)[Mexico](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/mexico/)[Germany](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/germany/)[Australia](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/australia/)[France](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/france/)[Turkey](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/turkey/)
[All countries producing raw sugar](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/)

## Other products of South Africa

[Sugar cane](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-cane/south-africa/)[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/south-africa/)[Cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/south-africa/)[Beer](https://husfarm.com/production/beer/south-africa/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/south-africa/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/south-africa/)[Chicken meat](https://husfarm.com/production/chicken-meat/south-africa/)[Grapes](https://husfarm.com/production/grapes/south-africa/)[Soybeans](https://husfarm.com/production/soybeans/south-africa/)[Oranges](https://husfarm.com/production/oranges/south-africa/)[Apples](https://husfarm.com/production/apples/south-africa/)[Beef (cattle meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/south-africa/)
[Agricultural production in South Africa](https://husfarm.com/production/country/south-africa/)

Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. [fao.org/faostat](https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL). Licence: [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.

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