The Swaziland Sugar Association was formed in 1964 and is responsible for providing the services necessary for the general development of the industry and the marketing of Swaziland’s sugar in particular, with a view to ensuring optimum returns on investment for existing and future producers. The local sugar industry derives its structure from the Sugar Act of 1967.

Sugarcane growers and millers belong respectively to the Swaziland Cane Growers Association (SCGA) and Swaziland Sugar Millers Association (SSMA).  These two bodies are equally represented on the Council, being the highest policy-making body of the Swaziland Sugar Association (SSA).  Council is chaired by an independent person, who has no interest directly or indirectly in the growing or milling of sugarcane, neither in the disposal of sugar or molasses.  Council has a number of bodies reporting to it.  These are reflected on the organisational chart above.

Sugarcane growing is only permissible through a quota issued by the Sugar Industry Quota Board, whose secretariat is in the SSA office.The Sugar Industry Quota Board is also chaired by an independent person.  Membership includes millers and growers from the sugar industry as well as independent members who must have no financial interest in the sugar industry.  The voting balance is in favour of the independent members.  The Council of SSA creates the total sucrose quota on the basis of available milling capacity and markets for the disposal of sugar.  The Quota Board then allocates the sucrose production quotas among successful applicants.  When allocating available sucrose quotas, the Quota Board must be satisfied that the applicants have access to suitable land and adequate water supply.  Successful applicants are allocated a "contigency quota" which, subject to satisfactory performance, is in time converted into a permanent quota.

SSA in its operations also provides technical services (while overall responsibility and oversight remains with SSA the service is now provided on an outsourced basis by the millers) to assist the industry raise operational efficiency, especially at field level. This includes assisting smallholder cane growers working on Swazi Nation Land through training, extension services and irrigation advice so that they produce high-quality cane on a sustainable basis; conducts cane testing services (to determine sucrose content so that growers are paid accordingly); and markets all the sugar as well as molasses.

The marketing of all sugar produced in Swaziland is through the SSA.  A Marketing Executive Committee, comprised of equal representation between millers and growers, advises Council on the disposal of Swazi sugar to the different markets.The proceeds from sales are then distributed efficiently within the sugar industry such that producers receive payment shortly after making deliveries.  Payment is made by SSA to the three millers who in turn are responsible for onward distribution to the growers in terms of the Swaziland Sugar Industry Agreement.