Abstract

The Sugar region in the Caribbean is diverse and for CARICOM producers (Barbados, Belize, Guyana and Jamaica) and to a lesser extent, the Dominican Republic, prospects are heavily shaped by the readiness of the industry (and governments) to adjust to a new trading environment following the abolition of quotas in the EU on 1^st October 2017. Reform of EU sugar policy will result in lower EU prices and shrinking imports. The effective loss of the EU preferential trade is compounded by Brexit which could impact the terms on which Tate and Lyle will purchase Caribbean raw sugar for refining at their Thames Refinery. Elsewhere, Cuba holds great potential but must attract significant foreign investment to boost output. The key objective in this study is to examine the key economic and policy drivers impacting the sugar industry in the Caribbean, with a view to ascertaining the region’s future prospects over the next decade. Because much of the Caribbean industry has not speedily reacted to the long-expected fundamental external challenge presented by EU sugar policy reform, time is now of the essence. Laser-focused implementation of national strategies for industry adaptation, and indeed survival, are paramount and without these, there are real risks that the longer term outlook for the sugar industry in the Caribbean will be more a story of what could have been rather than a celebration of industry and government ingenuity and cohesion in achieving true success.

Contents:

Introduction 		
A) Industry Overview					
        CARICOM								
        Production Trends					
        Markets							
        Distribution of Sugar Sales				
        Others (non-CARICOM)				
        Production trends					
        Markets							
        Technical Performance				
B) Current Situation					
        CARICOM Countries					
        Barbados							
        Belize							
        Guyana							
        Jamaica							
        Others (non-CARICOM)					
        Cuba							
        Dominican Republic					
C) Impact of EU Sugar Reform			
D) Charting a way Forward		
         (a) Boost Productivity					
         (b)Fulfil Domestic Markets				
         (c) Develop a CARICOM Regional Market		
         (d) Diversification into Green Energy			
         (e) Value Addition						
         (f) Forge Trade Agreements				
Regional Workshop Recommendations		
E) Industry Prospects and Outlook			
         Barbados							
         Belize							
         Guyana							
         Jamaica							
         Others (non-CARICOM)					
         Cuba							
         Dominican Republic					
Conclusions