Kilombero, Mkulazi Complete Sugar Expansion Trials as Tanzania Capacity Tops 800,000 Tonnes
Updated
Updated · dailynews.co.tz · Jun 4
Kilombero, Mkulazi Complete Sugar Expansion Trials as Tanzania Capacity Tops 800,000 Tonnes
1 articles · Updated · dailynews.co.tz · Jun 4
Summary
Kilombero Sugar and Mkulazi Holding have finished expansion trials, with Kilombero set to start full-scale output this month and Mkulazi already producing 256 tonnes of industrial sugar.
The projects are central to Tanzania’s push to cut sugar imports: Kilombero’s annual capacity will rise to 226,000 tonnes from 123,000, while Mkulazi’s new line targets domestic industrial demand.
Across seven factories, Tanzania now has installed sugar capacity of 800,000 tonnes a year against domestic demand of about 550,000 tonnes, and production had reached 410,979 tonnes by April.
The sugar sector already supports 28,500 direct jobs and about 95,000 indirect jobs, with the two completed expansions expected to add another 8,500 direct and 25,000 indirect positions.
Industry Minister Judith Kapinga said the gains strengthen a sector the government sees as key to industrial growth and to achieving full sugar self-sufficiency for household and industrial use.
Beyond self-sufficiency, what are the hidden environmental and economic costs of Tanzania's national sugar strategy?
With sugar capacity exceeding demand, why must Tanzania's industries still rely on massive foreign imports?
Will Tanzania’s sugar boom enrich small farmers, or will they be squeezed out by the industry's expansion?
2026 Milestone: How Tanzania Surpassed Sugar Demand Through Major Factory Expansions and Strategic Policy
Overview
By mid-2026, Tanzania achieved sugar self-sufficiency after decades of relying on imports. This major shift was made possible as the country’s installed sugar production capacity finally surpassed national demand. Previously, Tanzania faced regular supply deficits, especially between March and May, when local factories paused for maintenance and sugarcane quality dropped due to rainfall. During these times, the country depended heavily on imports. Strategic investments and new production facilities played a crucial role in driving this transformation, marking a new era for Tanzania’s sugar sector and reducing its vulnerability to supply shortages.