Illovo Sugar Malawi has dismissed fears of a production shortfall, attributing the current scarcity of sugar in some parts of the country to unauthorized exports and deliberate hoarding by certain players within the supply chain.

The company’s Communications and Stakeholder Relations Manager, Olive Kawelama, said the company’s factories are operating normally and producing enough sugar to meet local demand.

“Our factories are fully operational, and enough sugar is being produced and dispatched to meet domestic requirements,” said Kawelama. “We suspect that some players within the supply chain are exporting and deliberately hoarding the commodity. These actions distort the market and limit access for ordinary consumers.”

She added that the company is closely monitoring market dynamics to track down and deal with those involved in hoarding or illegal exports.

“Such behavior undermines market stability and disadvantages consumers,” Kawelama said. “We are working closely with relevant authorities and stakeholders to address this situation.”

When contacted, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Industrialisation, Business, Trade and Tourism, Patrick Botha, said the ministry needed more time before commenting on the matter.

However, Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) Executive Director, Sylvester Namiwa, has challenged Illovo to be more transparent on sugar availability and pricing, while calling for government intervention.

“Illovo needs to be open about sugar availability and how prices are being determined,” Namiwa said. “We urge the Ministry of Trade to step in and ensure fairness in the market. Parliament should also move to enact a Consumer Protection Law to safeguard Malawians from exploitation.”

Currently, sugar is selling at over K5,000 per one-kilogram packet in several parts of the country, including Thyolo, a situation that has sparked concern among consumers over affordability and access.