The 2026 sugar cane campaign officially launched on July 8 in Réunion's North and East basins, followed on July 13 by the South-West basin. Between 688,000 and 728,000 tonnes of cane are expected this season, in a context still marked by the financial aftermath of Cyclone Garance, which hit the sector hard in 2025.
Three Forecasts, Measured Optimism
Production estimates diverge across stakeholders: planters' organisations forecast approximately 728,000 tonnes; Tereos Océan Indien, the island's sole sugar processor, projects 700,000 tonnes; while the Interprofessional Technical Centre for Cane and Sugar (CTICS) is more cautious at 688,000 tonnes. Whichever estimate proves correct, the 2026 season looks set to outperform the difficult 2025 campaign.
Cyclone Garance: Financial Scars Still Raw
The fallout from Cyclone Garance continues to weigh on many operators in the industry. Several planters are still repaying advances taken out after last year's losses. Against this backdrop, agricultural unions made their formal campaign approval conditional on full transparency regarding individual planter debts — an unprecedented demand that reveals the financial fragility of a significant portion of the sector.
A Phased Launch Calendar
The staggered start — North-East on July 8, South-West on July 13 — follows the usual calendar, timed to the different cane maturity levels across the island's micro-climates. The campaign is expected to run through to late November 2026. Tereos Océan Indien coordinates the entire collection and crushing logistics across the territory.
A Multi-Faceted Industry
Sugar cane is Réunion's primary agricultural crop, with around 3,000 active planters. Beyond sugar, the sector valorises its by-products: bagasse fuels the island's thermal power plants, while molasses feeds the production of Réunion agricultural rum — a high-value product exported worldwide.
Why It Matters
The sugar campaign is the barometer of Réunion's agricultural economy. Its volume determines the income of thousands of families, Tereos' investment capacity, and the financial health of a broad rural ecosystem. A solid season would provide vital breathing room for a sector seeking to diversify — toward agrofuel and organic sugar — in a context of global agricultural price volatility.
Sources: Zinfos974, La1ère / France Info Réunion, CTICS.