Production of sugar cane in South Africa 2000-2023
South Africa produced around 18 million metric tons of sugar cane in 2022/2023. The preliminary volume dropped in comparison to the preceding year. Over the last two decades, the quantity of sugar cane produced in South Africa followed a declining trend, with several fluctuations. This is largely due to farmers substituting their production of sugar cane for other more profitable and less capital intensive crops. Increases in sugar taxes, decreasing prices, and lower import prices are the main reasons for the substitution.