SIB Explains Dip in Sugar Exports

Jefte Ochaeta

As we mentioned earlier in the newscast, sugar cane farmers in the north have been dealt a serious blow by Tate & Lyle when the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association was informed that the company would only be purchasing ten thousand tons of sugar.  That decision adds to the already dismal figures for the industry despite a growth in production during this crop season.  Today, during the SIB press conference, statistician Jefte Ochaeta explained the context in which the performance of the industry was evaluated.

Jefte Ochaeta, Statistician, SIB

“We are just measuring the months of April to June so that could explain to you, if we explain April to June, that‘s what we‘re doing here and the difference is that.  Now if we compared from December, November 2012 to this period in which the season ends in June then the difference would have still been somewhat alike but the crop year is larger this year than for last year.”

Reporter

“But it was strongest this year; it was stronger at the end because of the late start.”

Jefte Ochaeta

“And also the sugar industry also had a bigger crop so the cane farmers planted more because remember that the factory is now milling more so they can deliver whenever they want.”

Reporter

“Okay, has there been any quarter on record in which there has been eight point seven percent growth?”

Jefte Ochaeta

“No, no, no.  This quarter has been one of the highest in growth that we’ve observed.”

The most significant decline in export in July was recorded for sugar, which spiraled almost eighty percent from fourteen million to three million dollars.