By Belize Live News Staff: Minister of Agriculture Jose Mai has proposed a potential increase in the price of packaged sugar in Belize, suggesting that it should be sold under a different pricing structure. He clarified, however, that the increase would apply specifically to packaged sugar, not to bulk or loose sugar, which would remain under the current price control.
“We haven’t discussed it in the Cabinet yet, but we’re doing the numbers,” Mai explained. He emphasized the need for a pricing structure that reflects the different costs associated with packaging and distribution. “It has to be packaged sugar. It has to be industrial-type sugar, and it has to be zoned,” he said, pointing out that costs vary across regions, with places like San Pedro facing higher transportation costs.
Mai suggested that consumers should have the choice to buy packaged sugar at a slightly higher price, while the option for purchasing unpackaged sugar at the current controlled price would still be available. “I support that we need to have packaged sugar, and that the price must be on that. Increase the price on that,” he noted, underscoring that the proposed change would not impact the overall price of sugar for consumers.
Currently, the controlled price of white sugar in Belize is capped at 75 cents per pound. The Minister’s proposal would allow consumers to pay a premium for packaged sugar if they choose, while preserving affordable options for those who prefer to buy in bulk. This approach aims to address the logistical costs of packaging and distribution without placing an additional financial burden on consumers who rely on the more economical unpackaged sugar.
