Sugar cane production in South Africa
In 2024 South Africa produced 16.7 million t of sugar cane, the 13th largest in the world (0.86% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 5.7%. The record was 23.9 million t in 2000. Area harvested: 242,267 ha, yield 69.1 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 16.7 million t
- World rank
- 13 of 94
- 10-year change
- −5.7%
- Record
- 23.9 million t
- 2000
Sugar cane in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
South Africa compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.86%
- 0.94% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 69.1
- world 72.5 (−4.7%)
- kg per person
- 262
- world 238
- 10-year change
- −5.7%
- world +2.8%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Guatemala | 22,907,870 | 1.2% |
| 12 | Philippines | 18,694,653 | 0.96% |
| 13 | South Africa | 16,741,000 | 0.86% |
| 14 | Egypt | 13,314,260 | 0.69% |
| 15 | Argentina | 12,255,902 | 0.63% |
Map of world production of sugar cane
Share of the world total; South Africa is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 16,741,000 | −6.7% | 242,267 | 69.10 |
| 2023 | 17,944,000 | +0.2% | 264,487 | 67.84 |
| 2022 | 17,911,000 | +4.1% | 258,403 | 69.31 |
| 2021 | 17,199,000 | −5.6% | 239,152 | 71.92 |
| 2020 | 18,220,000 | −5.3% | 249,250 | 73.10 |
| 2019 | 19,242,000 | −0.3% | 275,942 | 69.73 |
| 2018 | 19,301,688 | +11% | 276,840 | 69.72 |
| 2017 | 17,388,177 | +15% | 253,912 | 68.48 |
| 2016 | 15,074,610 | +1.4% | 249,920 | 60.32 |
| 2015 | 14,861,401 | −16% | 258,490 | 57.49 |
| 2014 | 17,755,537 | −11% | 272,930 | 65.06 |
| 2013 | 20,032,969 | +16% | 265,939 | 75.33 |
| 2012 | 17,278,000 | +2.8% | 257,094 | 67.20 |
| 2011 | 16,800,277 | +4.9% | 252,804 | 66.46 |
| 2010 | 16,015,649 | −14% | 271,080 | 59.08 |
| 2009 | 18,655,088 | −3.1% | 278,133 | 67.07 |
| 2008 | 19,255,404 | −2.4% | 287,380 | 67.00 |
| 2007 | 19,723,916 | −2.7% | 307,380 | 64.17 |
| 2006 | 20,278,603 | −3.7% | 305,600 | 66.36 |
| 2005 | 21,052,266 | +10% | 318,856 | 66.02 |
| 2004 | 19,094,760 | −6.5% | 316,010 | 60.42 |
| 2003 | 20,418,932 | −11% | 325,956 | 62.64 |
| 2002 | 23,012,554 | +8.8% | 321,234 | 71.64 |
| 2001 | 21,156,536 | −11% | 325,704 | 64.96 |
| 2000 | 23,876,162 | +13% | 322,858 | 73.95 |
| 1999 | 21,223,100 | −7.4% | 313,294 | 67.74 |
| 1998 | 22,930,324 | +3.5% | 316,357 | 72.48 |
| 1997 | 22,154,776 | +5.7% | 296,576 | 74.70 |
| 1996 | 20,950,896 | +25% | 299,655 | 69.92 |
| 1995 | 16,713,650 | +6.6% | 273,112 | 61.20 |
| 1994 | 15,683,277 | +39% | 284,237 | 55.18 |
| 1993 | 11,244,445 | −13% | 269,677 | 41.70 |
| 1992 | 12,955,409 | −35% | 268,301 | 48.29 |
| 1991 | 20,077,969 | +11% | 276,015 | 72.74 |
| 1990 | 18,083,488 | −2.7% | 264,687 | 68.32 |
| 1989 | 18,587,000 | −6.2% | 258,495 | 71.90 |
| 1988 | 19,811,008 | −5.8% | 276,420 | 71.67 |
| 1987 | 21,021,008 | +15% | 274,254 | 76.65 |
| 1986 | 18,252,000 | −2.9% | 275,727 | 66.20 |
| 1985 | 18,803,008 | −16% | 266,440 | 70.57 |
| 1984 | 22,356,000 | +67% | 273,014 | 81.89 |
| 1983 | 13,422,876 | −31% | 232,027 | 57.85 |
| 1982 | 19,339,488 | −1.0% | 266,289 | 72.63 |
| 1981 | 19,532,128 | +39% | 257,562 | 75.83 |
| 1980 | 14,062,204 | −24% | 212,627 | 66.14 |
| 1979 | 18,412,000 | −2.7% | 218,101 | 84.42 |
| 1978 | 18,931,776 | −0.4% | 212,136 | 89.24 |
| 1977 | 19,009,024 | −1.1% | 217,073 | 87.57 |
| 1976 | 19,220,608 | +14% | 201,400 | 95.43 |
| 1975 | 16,813,536 | −0.5% | 186,569 | 90.12 |
| 1974 | 16,895,328 | +9.3% | 187,350 | 90.18 |
| 1973 | 15,453,687 | −8.0% | 180,684 | 85.53 |
| 1972 | 16,804,640 | +0.3% | 180,404 | 93.15 |
| 1971 | 16,751,114 | +38% | 183,237 | 91.42 |
| 1970 | 12,143,897 | −18% | 165,444 | 73.40 |
| 1969 | 14,787,864 | +7.8% | 184,727 | 80.05 |
| 1968 | 13,719,694 | −19% | 182,118 | 75.33 |
| 1967 | 16,913,456 | +20% | 200,125 | 84.51 |
| 1966 | 14,102,760 | +68% | 173,907 | 81.09 |
| 1965 | 8,406,000 | −21% | 152,190 | 55.23 |
| 1964 | 10,661,000 | +7.3% | 132,856 | 80.24 |
| 1963 | 9,939,000 | +1.9% | 121,033 | 82.12 |
| 1962 | 9,751,000 | +15% | 96,000 | 101.57 |
| 1961 | 8,513,000 | — | 96,000 | 88.68 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 165 t USD 28,000
- Exporter rank
- 23 of 56
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
Questions and answers
What is the production of sugar cane in South Africa?
South Africa produced 16.7 million t in 2024, 0.86% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does South Africa rank in the world for production of sugar cane?
South Africa ranked 13th of 94 countries in 2024. The largest producer was Brazil with 39.2% of the world total.
How has the production of sugar cane in South Africa changed?
It fell by 5.7% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +2.8% for the world. The record was 23.9 million t in 2000.
What is the yield of sugar cane in South Africa?
69.1 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (16.7 million t from 242,267 ha), against a world average of 72.5 t/ha.
Does South Africa export or import sugar cane?
In 2024 South Africa reported exports of 165 t (USD 28,000) and no imports, 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
Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. fao.org/faostat. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.