There are in the region of 42 300 registered sugarcane growers in South Africa. Most farming takes place in Kwa-Zulu Natal, with some farms in Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape. There are 14 sugarmills currently operating, owned by 5 milling companies.


The South African sugar industry produces an estimated average of 2,5 million tons of sugar per season. South Africa produced a total of 2 273 499 tons in 2007/08 of which 1 399 657 tons was for the national market and 873 842 tons for the international market.


Three companies active in South Africa are Tongaat Hulett, Illovo and TSB.

Tongaat Hulett Sugar, started in 1854, is a world leader in sugar milling technology throughout the Southern African region. It has four mills in South Africa (Maidstone, Darnall, Amatikulu and Felixton) as well as a central refinery, situated in Durban, which has an annual refining capacity of some 600 000 tons.



Illovo Sugar is Africa’s biggest sugar producer with extensive agricultural and manufacturing operations in six African countries. Illovo has a 38% share of industry production in South Africa and is a major supplier of sugar to African consumer and industrial markets.
TSB Sugar, a wholly owned subsidiary of Remgro, has as its core business activity the production of refined and raw sugar that is marketed either nationally, by Quality Sugars under the Selati brand name, or exported through the South African Sugar Association (SASA).