SOUTH AFRICAN SUGAR ASSOCIATION (SASA)
Bulk raw sugar at the South African Sugar Terminal
SERVING THE SOUTH AFRICAN SUGAR INDUSTRY
The South African sugar industry is one of the world's leading cost competitive producers of high quality sugar and makes an important contribution to employment, particularly in rural areas, to sustainable development and to the national economy.
The sugar industry is a diverse industry and combines the agricultural activities of sugarcane cultivation with the manufacture of raw and refined sugar, syrups, specialised sugars and a range of by-products. Sugarcane is grown predominantly inKwaZulu-Natal, with a substantial investment in Mpumalanga. Sugar is manufactured by six milling companies with 14 sugarmills operating in these cane growing regions. The industry produces an estimated average of 2,2 million tons of sugar per season. About 60% of this sugar is marketed in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). The remainder is exported to markets including those in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
The industry makes an important contribution to the national economy, given its agricultural and industrial investments, foreign exchange earnings, its high employment, and its linkages with major suppliers, support industries and customers. The South African sugar industry generates an annual estimated average direct income of R8 billion.
Direct employment within the sugar industry is approximately 77 000 jobs, which represents a significant percentage of the total agricultural workforce in South Africa. Indirect employment is estimated at 350 000. In addition, there are approximately 35 300 registered cane growers. There are one million people, more than 2% of South Africa's population, who depend on the sugar industry for a living.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND BROAD-BASED BLACK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
The sugar industry's focus on producing a high quality, profitable and cost effective product is complemented by its focus on sustainable development which includes land reform, education and training, social investment, and the promotion of sound and sustainable practices. In addition to industry initiatives, the South African Cane Growers' Association and the sugar milling companies undertake development projects and are involved in Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment through a range of important initiatives.
SASA
The South African Sugar Association (SASA) provides a range of specialist services that enhance the profitability, global competitiveness and sustainability of the South African sugar industry.
INDUSTRY AFFAIRS
Administrating and facilitating adherence to the Sugar Act, the Sugar Industry Agreement and the SASA Constitution, is the responsibility of SASA's Industry Affairs Division.
CANE TESTING SERVICE (CTS)
The Cane Testing Service provides a specialist service under contract to individual Mill Group Boards to determine the quality of individual grower cane deliveries to the mill for cane payment purposes. This analytical chemistry service assesses the recoverable value content in cane delivered to the mill by growers, providing a neutral and objective basis on which to calculate recoverable value payment by miller to grower.
NATIONAL MARKET
The Division is responsible for managing industry matters that affect the national market for sugar including: statistically analysing sugar sales, supplies and demand, researching drivers of sugar demand, administering aspects of SACU/SADC sugar agreements, the administration of industrial rebates and
generic marketing.
INTERNATIONAL MARKETING
The marketing, sales and logistics related to South Africa's bulk raw sugar is performed by the International Marketing division which focuses on achieving maximum net proceeds at an acceptable level of risk. The raw sugar is sold to refineries in the Far East, Middle East and the United States, either directly or
through international trade houses.
