Bitter sweet festive as consumers brace for sugar tariff hike

Consumers are bracing for higher prices on sugar and sugar-based products following a sharp increase in customs duties, a move that retailers warn will inevitably be passed on to households already under pressure from the rising cost of living.

The Botswana Trade Commission (BOTC) has announced an upward adjustment of the sugar tariff from 364.68 thebe per kilogramme to 436.38 thebe per kilogramme, in line with a tariff amendment published in the South African Government Gazette on December 5, 2025.