Illovo Sugar Malawi plc interim managing director Kondwani Msimuko says the sugar manufacturer has not reduced its supplies to the domestic market.
The sentiments by Illovo come at a time some major retailers have been having unstable supplies posing fears of scarcity.
In an interview on Tuesday, Msimuko said Illovo will engage their customers to understand what may be causing the shortage.
He said: “We find it surprising that there should be a shortage. As we do not control how the customers run their businesses, it is difficult for us to comment on what is causing the shortage once the sugar has left our factory or warehouse. The customers may be in a position to explain.”
Illovo Sugar Malawi plc data show that at the close of the season was last month, they had 80 000 metric tonnes compared to about 40 000 metric tonnes during the same period the previous year.
Consumers Association of Malawi executive director John Kapito indicated that production is on break until April and it would seem that the country is now running out stocks.
“No wonder there are scarcities in some place let’s hope it’s just a temporary situation and it will be unfortunate if the sugar was exported during this lean period then we will go back to last year’s challenges of scarcities and high prices,” he said.
Apart from Illovo Sugar (Malawi), which has a 97 percent market share, the other company is Salima Sugar Company Limited jointly owned by Malawi Government and private investor. Illovo Sugar (Malawi) plc annually cultivates around 1.8 million tonnes together with about 350 000 tonnes produced by smallholder farmers.
The firm has two estates—in Dwangwa, Nkhotakota and another one Nchalo in Chikwawa. Sugar is the country’s number four foreign exchange earner, according to the National Statistical Office.
