The Sugar Association of the Caribbean (SAC) in its crop data report for the month of May, says out of season rain has delayed sugar cane production in Jamaica and Guyana, and has adversely affected the 2016/17 reaping period.

However, the SAC in its report says it expects both countries to finish reaping by the end of July and should have more favourable results for the remainder of the crop year.

During the month of May, heavy rains battered the island for at least three consecutive days, damaging infrastructure, crops; and the livelihood of communities. The flood damage was estimated at close to $500 million.

According to the SAC, for the month under review, the Caribbean sugar industries produced a total of 30,345 tonnes led by Belize with 20,643 tonnes, followed by Guyana with 5,305 tonnes, and Jamaica with 4,487 tonnes. Members of the SAC are Jamaica, Guyana, Barbados and Belize.

The SAC reported that Barbados had already completed its production for the 2016/17 crop with 10,500 tonnes.

Cumulative regional production for the 2016/17 crop was 275,000 tonnes at the end of the month, with total exports at 260,524 tonnes. Guyana, which has two crops for the period August 2016 to May 2017, recorded the most exports totalling 147,484 tonnes, followed by Belize with 84,179 tonnes, and Jamaica 28,861 tonnes.

The breakdown of the export figures for the current crop shows 197,513 tonnes in bulk and 14,828 tonnes in bags to the European Union (EU), for a combined total of 212,340 tonnes to that market.

Comparatively, SAC members exported 22,387 tonnes to the United States under its quota allocation, while 25,472 tonnes were shipped to Caricom markets.