Santander Sugar Crop Kicked Off Quite Smoothly

Earlier this month, Santander began harvesting sugar at the start of the 2024 crop.  Unlike in the north, things went rather smoothly.  The company shares its expectations for a productive season and is once again asking government to consider it as one of two major producers that can supply the local market with white and brown sugar.

On the Phone: Beverly Burke

On the Phone: Beverly Burke, PR Manager, Santander Sugar

“We have started our season on the eighth of January, we are very excited about that and the outlook for this season is pretty good and we do feel that if indeed Santander will be called upon to supply in the local market, let’s sit down and have that discussion now.  It’s a traded commodity and, therefore, sugar is pre-sold.  If I am being asked to supply in the local market September, October, November, December, we will see exactly the same situation as we did last year, because if there is sugar in a warehouse, something is wrong.  Before we start producing, that sugar is sold.  We are in a very good position where we can have conversations regarding securing some sugars for the local market and that is why we are saying that we are prepared to have that conversation now and I do hope that it is looked upon to say that the citizens of this country, the users of this product in Belize, can be certain to have their product when they need it by the companies in Belize that produce this sugar and Santander being one of the major players.  So we do want that level of consideration and we hope that it’s a situation where we provide at a lower price definitely than what that refined imported sugar is looking to put forth.”