Sugar Production & Export
Sugar / Sugarcane · Production, milling, refining, export
Zimbabwe is one of seven SADC members producing surplus sugar for export. Ranked 17th globally for sugarcane yield and 4th in SADC — production reached 6 million tonnes valued at US$2.7 billion in 2023.
Zimbabwe is one of the seven Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states that produces surplus sugar for export. The other countries are Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa, Eswatini and Zambia. In terms of sugarcane yield, Zimbabwe is very competitive compared to other sugarcane producing countries — ranked 17th globally, 9th in Africa and 4th in the SADC region after Malawi, Zambia and Eswatini.
Sugarcane production sits at 6 million tonnes with value of US$2.7 billion (2023). Sugar and horticulture together contribute 7% of agricultural GDP.
Where the capital goes.
Investment opportunities exist in expanded primary cane production, mill modernisation, refining capacity and downstream processing (ethanol, co-generation) — leveraging existing surplus export status and strong regional yield competitiveness.
Numbers from the prospectus.
Local demand, export demand and production gaps.
Why Zimbabwe.
Approximately 33 million hectares of arable land for crop and livestock production.
Over 10,000 small, medium and large dams — potential to irrigate up to 2 million hectares.
Temperate climate favourable across five agro-ecological regions.
Strong human capital base with a 90% literacy rate.
Strategic location on the North-South Corridor — regional logistics hub.
Preferential market access through SADC, COMESA, ACP, AfCFTA and WTO.
Multi-currency system eliminating exchange rate risk; dividends and profits freely remittable.
Investment Promotion & Protection Agreements (bilateral and multilateral).
Enabling infrastructure.
Why invest in this opportunity.
Register interest in Sugar Production & Export.
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