Kenya's sugar production has significantly declined by 15.8% in the first half of 2025, falling from 384,356 tonnes in 2024 to 323,752 metric tonnes. This slump has led to expectations of increased reliance on imports, with a projected shortfall of nearly 400,000 tonnes for 2025/26.

• Domestic sugar output in June 2025 was 38,339 tonnes, nearly half of 75,500 tonnes recorded in June 2024.
• The Kenya Sugar Board had previously warned of cane shortages, affecting milling operations in the Western sugar belt.
• The government implemented a 4% Sugar Development Levy (SDL) on July 1, 2025, applied to both local and imported sugar, to fund productivity improvements and factory development.