Dear Editor,
The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) acknowledges that sugar production for the 2025 crop fell short of the Corporation’s projected target for the year. It is, however, important to consider the 2025 performance in a year-on-year context. When compared with the previous year, overall sugar production increased by 26.5 percent. While this improvement does not negate the fact that targets were not met, it reflects incremental progress despite several challenges.
The 2025 production was significantly affected by prolonged and excessive rainfall, which disrupted harvesting schedules and impacted cane quality across multiple estates. At the same time, ongoing labour shortages continued to constrain field operations. In response, GuySuCo expanded the use of mechanical harvesting, achieving the highest level of mechanised cane harvesting in the history of the Corporation.
This shift helped to sustain field operations under difficult conditions and represents a necessary structural adjustment to current labour realities. Progress was also made under the Corporation’s field conversion programme to support mechanised harvesting.
These works, including improvements to access, drainage and field layout, are not immediately reflected in overall production outcomes but are critical to improving harvesting efficiency and recoveries over time.
Field performance indicators also show gradual improvement, with average cane yields increasing from 41 tonnes per hectare in 2023 to 53 tonnes per hectare in 2025, representing an overall increase of 29 percent over the period. While challenges remain, these gains provide a stronger foundation for future performance.
This programme is focused on strengthening the long-term viability of the industry through targeted interventions. These include much-needed upgrades to factory infrastructure and maintenance systems, strengthened factory management and performance monitoring, and the continued expansion of mechanization.
GuySuCo’s recovery cannot be assessed on the basis of a single crop or a single production figure. The Corporation remains focused on rebuilding the industry through steady, practical improvements that strengthen its operational base and long-term sustainability. As preparations continue for the upcoming crop, lessons from 2025 are already being incorporated into field and factory strategies.
GuySuCo remains optimistic that these measures will support improved outcomes over the medium term. The Corporation remains fully committed to continuous improvement and the long-term rebuilding of the sugar industry. I wish to also commend our workers and technical teams who continued to operate under challenging conditions.