Viviana Fernández buys an average of 20 kilograms of sugar a week, which is one of the main ingredients of her part-time job: making cakes and snacks. However, since the end of June he has found that sugar prices have risen slightly, and the brand he regularly buys is harder to find in supermarkets.

For example, last month in supermarket chains, a kilogram of sugar was sold from 0.81 to 0.98 dollars, depending on the brand; and 2 kilograms, at 2 USD. This week, a kilogram rose between $1.07 and $1.12; and 2 kilograms at $2.13.

The rains affect the sugar sector and delay the start of the harvest

Why is the price of sugar rising?

This is practically due to the climatic factors that influenced the beginning of the harvest of the sugar mills, especially the four that work on the coast: Valdez, San Carlos, La Troncal and San Juan. Because of the rain, these mills could not start the harvest, which under normal circumstances begins at the beginning of June every year and lasts until December.

According to the National Federation of Sugar Producers of Ecuador (Fenazúcar), which brings together six sugar factories operating in the country: four on the coast and Monterrey, Azucarera Lojana (Malca) and the sugar factory of the North (Iancem), the national sugar production averages 500,000 metric tons per year.

These six months of uninterrupted harvest are enough to satisfy the demand of the domestic market throughout the year, since Ecuador is self-sufficient. However, due to the delay in the start of the harvest, the factories had to import sugar from Colombia and Peru to supply the market due to the lack of their own production, Fenazúcar confirmed.

For example, the Valdez Sugar Company started harvesting in Milagro (Guayas) on June 26, when it was supposed to start a week earlier, on June 19. In addition, a week later the factory, which had imported 10,000 tons of sugar to supply the domestic market, had to stop harvesting due to a storm.

Valdez stops the harvest because of the rains that make production in Ecuador intermittent like 26 years ago, also because of the weather

Although Mario Goncalves, the commercial director of Valdez, assured that the import of sugar is temporary, he did not rule out that the import will continue, if the harvest interruptions due to rain continue.

The executive explained that importing products from other markets affects the company’s costs, although he assured that they are always looking for a fair price for consumers, not a price increase.

For his part, Fenazúcar assured that these operations are carried out with the authorization and coordination of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), and that only to cover the deficit and achieve stocks.

For its part, the San Carlos sugar factory started its 126th harvest in Marcelino Maridueña (Guayas) on June 6. The mill explained that sugarcane cultivation depends on the climate, as it needs good levels of sunlight and water to achieve optimal growth; however, they recognized that climate change in Ecuador is a reality that cannot be ignored.

If the storm does not subside and the harvest is not regulated, sugar mills will continue to import white sugar to cover production deficits and supply the domestic market.

However, despite the unfavorable weather conditions, the mill assured that “it welcomes with great enthusiasm this harvest season that stimulates the economy of the country, especially that of Marcelino Maridueña and the surrounding cantons, and with determination and adaptability they are ready to face the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities presented to them indicated in this harvest season.”

The value of sugarcane production is 196 million dollars, and the supply of sugar contributes 396 million dollars. In addition, employment created in the cane value chain, for sugar, exceeds 38,000 direct and 150,000 indirect, that is, 208,000 families or 750,000 people benefited.