Tanzania, June 29 -- Dar es Salaam. Less than a year after Tanzania celebrated a historic milestone by exporting sugar for the first time, consumers are now facing a puzzling reality: supermarket shelves and retail outlets across the country are increasingly stocked with imported sugar rather than locally produced brands.

The development has raised questions among consumers and industry observers over how a country that recently reported sugar production exceeding domestic demand has returned to relying on imports.

In October 2025, Tanzania achieved a major breakthrough by exporting 85,000 tonnes of sugar and earning approximately $72 million in revenue. It marked the first time in the country's history that sugar production had surpass...