Two ships from Laem Chabang in Thailand and Sheng Heng Hai in China loaded with sugar are expected to dock at the Port of Mombasa to combat the high prices of the product.

The consignments are to arrive on February 28 and March 1 2023 respectively to alleviate the soaring prices of sugar with a 2-kilo now retailing at about Kes250 at major retailers.

A two-kilo of sugar increased by Kes12 in October last year, at a time when the country is facing a 34 per cent decline in sugarcane production.

Currently, a two-kilo of sugar packet retailing at Kes312 has up from Kes300 last week.

Costly sugar arrived at a time when the nation's sugar output in August fell 34% from the previous month due to young canes and the just-held general elections.

Data from the Sugar Directorate showed that total production dropped to 46,459 tonnes in August from 70, 278 tonnes in July.

According to data from the Sugar Directorate, total production decreased from 70, 278 tonnes in July to 46,459 tonnes in August.

The Treasury imposed a 210,000 sugar import quota to safeguard regional farmers, which has impeded efforts to stabilise sugar prices.

This consignment comes a month after COMESA director of trade Christopher Onyango, announced that the Kenyan government has to turn to internal measures to curb the expected sugar price rise.

“We are not going to ban our members from engaging in a competitive market by stopping them from selling sugar to non-member states offering good prices," he said.

“If Kenya wants to curb rising sugar prices, the government should use internal measures like reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers,” he added

Onyango observed that Kenya had a sugar deficit but the country had not put enough measures to address the deficit.

“We already have enough sugar in the bloc and if Kenya institutes the internal measures, it will be able to compete with other countries,” Onyango remarked.

Apart from lowering tariffs, Onyango explained that Kenya could benefit from increased production.