Tariff talk has thrown plenty of industries into a state of uncertainty.
The sugar cane industry is large in Louisiana, and concerns are high. Kenneth Gravois, a sugar cane specialist with the LSU Agricultural Center, spoke to WWL’s Tommy Tucker about how the industry might be impacted by tariffs.
In 2022, Louisiana surpassed Florida as the largest cane sugar-producing state in the United States. With an estimated annual economic impact of $2 billion on the state, tariff uncertainty is a growing concern.
Fortunately, Gravois says Louisiana’s sugar cane industry shouldn’t suffer much due to the amount it exports.
“We import roughly 15% of our needs here in the United States, and those exports are already controlled through trade agreements with around 140 other countries that have a quota and access to our market. That means it’s a controlled market and the price does not fluctuate a lot,” Gravois explains.
Because Louisiana is uniquely positioned as a large exporter, Gravois is hopeful that the state will weather tariff uncertainty fairly well.
“We control the supply coming into the country because normally we have more than enough sugar here in the state to satisfy the needs of US consumers,” Gravois adds.
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