Global Sugar Shortages Leave Developing Countries in Crisis
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Sugar prices have risen 55% in two months due to droughts and bad weather damaging crops in India and Thailand. This has led to global sugar shortages.
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The sugar shortage is negatively impacting developing countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, leaving bakers unable to afford sugar needed to make bread.
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Weather events like El Niño are contributing to extreme weather like drought that damages sugarcane crops. Climate change may be making these events worse.
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Brazil is expected to have a 20% larger sugar harvest which could help supply later this year. But until then, shortages persist.
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As sugar prices rise, poor families who rely on cheap bread as a food staple are being priced out and going hungry. Bakers struggle with whether to raise prices or take losses.