Quick answers, straight to it
The most common questions about Zimbabwe's sugar industry, with concise, sourced answers.
How much sugar does Zimbabwe produce?
Zimbabwe produced approximately 232,482 tonnes of sugar in the 2024/25 season from 6.71 million tonnes of sugarcane. The combined installed milling capacity is over 640,000 tonnes.
Who are the major sugar producers in Zimbabwe?
The two main mills are Hippo Valley Estates and Triangle Limited, both linked to Tongaat Hulett. StarAfrica Corporation operates refineries in Harare and Bulawayo under the Goldstar Sugars brand.
Why is Zimbabwean sugar fortified with Vitamin A?
The government mandated Vitamin A fortification of household sugar from 1 July 2017 to address widespread micronutrient deficiency. A 2012 national survey found 19% of children under five were Vitamin A deficient. Zimbabwe is one of only nine countries worldwide with this policy.
Where is sugarcane grown in Zimbabwe?
All sugarcane is grown in the Lowveld region, specifically the Chiredzi District of Masvingo Province. The area offers ideal conditions: warm climate, fertile soil, and established irrigation infrastructure.
What sugar brands are made in Zimbabwe?
The main brands are Huletts SunSweet (brown sugar from Tongaat Hulett's mills) and Goldstar (refined white sugar from StarAfrica Corporation). Country Choice Foods produces specialty products like castor sugar, icing sugar, and syrups.
Does Zimbabwe export sugar?
Yes. About 35% of production is exported. Zimbabwe has a US tariff rate quota of approximately 12,636 metric tonnes (fully utilised annually), exports to regional African markets, and previously exported significantly to the EU before 2017 policy changes.
What by-products come from sugar production?
The main by-products are bagasse (burned to generate up to 30 MW of electricity), molasses (used in stock feed and ethanol production), and filter cake (returned to fields as fertiliser). Triangle also produces up to 30 million litres of ethanol annually.
How many people work in Zimbabwe's sugar industry?
The sugar industry employs over 14,700 people, making it the largest private sector employer in Zimbabwe.
What is the sugar tax in Zimbabwe?
A sugar tax was introduced in 2024 at US$0.0010 per gramme and was halved in the 2025 National Budget to US$0.0005 per gramme.
What is the ICUMSA rating?
ICUMSA (International Commission for Uniform Methods of Sugar Analysis) ratings measure sugar colour. Lower numbers mean whiter sugar. ICUMSA 45 is the international standard for refined white sugar. Raw sugar typically has ICUMSA ratings of 600 to 1200.
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