35,000 tonnes of sugar ready for the market

Bags of 50 kg sugar, are piled up at the production site of the sugar company of Cameroon (Sosucam) at Nkoteng in Upper Sanaga. Also, bags of 1kg are produced at high speed on one of the sites of the company at Mbandjock.

These stock of Sosucam is sufficient to cover the next two months. This observation was made on Monday by an interdepartmental team.

At present, both plants are respectively producing 20,000 t and 12,000 t of sugar, representing roughly two months of consumption. Throughout the national territory, the Sosucam has stored more than 35,000 t of sugar.

Last Monday, the tour of an Interdepartmental Committee on the sites of the company at Mbandjock and Nkoteng permitted them to make this observation.

The Director of trade within the Department of Commerce (Mincommerce), Valentin Mbarga Bihina, head of mission of the Committee, explained: "we went there to make sure that there is sugar and to also check the fluidity of the production circuit.

From our observation, we can say that, domestic production is able to meet the demand. The quantities stored at the Sosucam level can cover at least two months of consumption". He added that "this company is still producing and by the end of the sugar campaign, we will have enough to meet the needs of the domestic market."

The Commercial Director of the Sosucam, Jean-François Ntsama noted that, "we delivered since the beginning of the sugar campaign in November, an average of 500t per day across various markets.

Our goal is to have an optimal production in May-June to cover the period of Ramadan." The Deputy Director of the Sosucam, Guillaume Ranson, noted that: "we started the year 2015 with 35, 000 t of sugar in our stocks. What will enable us to supply the market this year with approximately 150, 000 to 160 000 tonnes.

Local sugar demand ranges from 180, 000 to 200, 000 t per year, according to figures from the Mincommerce.

The Deputy Director-general revealed, moreover, that the Sosucam is planning the development of its plantations and industries, to produce by 2020, 40% more than what is currently done.

Also, an extension of the sugar store project is underway. This aims to increase the storage capacity of the company to avoid the situation of overflow experienced last year when officials of the company had to store 10,000 t of sugar with a value of 10 to 15 billion F outdoor due to massive importations.