THE Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said on Tuesday that it is waiting a “go signal” from President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to formally release a sugar order authorizing the imports of 440,000 metric tons (MT) of refined sugar. “In all the SRA Sugar Board meetings, the President, if he is not available, is represented by […]
Tag: sugar
Sugar industry calls for broad participation in import program
THE sugar industry has called on the government to admit all interested parties, including sugar producers, industrial users, and accredited traders to the proposed program to import sugar. In a letter to the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) on Feb. 6, Confederation of Sugar Producers Association, Inc. (Confed) President Aurelio Gerardo J. Valderrama, Jr. asked the […]
Palace: Datagro to help boost Philippine sugar industry
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has secured project commitments from Brazilian company Datagro to boost the Philippines sugar industry, the presidential palace said on Monday night. Datagro had proposed during a meeting between its officials and the Philippine leader to start its technology transfer project on the islands of Negros and Panay, the Presidential Communications […]
Adjusted milling season seen imposing hardships on sugar farm workers
THE proposed delay of the start of sugar milling season to October could result in lower yields and lower income for farm laborers, a planters’ association official said. “Canes need to be harvested when they are ripe, which means when they reach their maximum level of sugar content. When canes are overripe, they have less […]
Output boost seen if sugar milling starts in October
A SUGAR Regulatory Administration (SRA) board member said production could rise if the sugar milling season is moved back to its “proper” start date of October. Speaking at the Laging Handa briefing on Tuesday, SRA Board Member and Planter’s Representative Pablo Luis S. Azcona said the decision of many sugar mills to start operating in […]
Sugar planters call 450,000 MT import plan ‘acceptable’
THE United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED) said on Thursday that it supports a government plan to import sugar, with volumes initially estimated at 450,000 metric tons (MT), in light of the imminent establishment of a two-month buffer stock for the commodity. In a statement on Thursday, UNIFED President Manuel R. Lamata said the import plan […]
DA issues initial estimate of 450,000 MT in sugar imports
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is considering sugar imports of as much as 450,000 metric tons (MT) following an order from the President to maintain a two-month buffer stock of the commodity. Rex C. Estoperez, DA deputy spokesman, said on Wednesday in response to a question about sugar import plans: “Our information is that 450,000 […]
SRA calls for sale of smuggled sugar at Kadiwa stores
THE Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said sugar seized from smugglers should be sold to the public via the Department of Agriculture’s (DA’s) Kadiwa stores. In a statement on Tuesday, SRA Administrator David John Thaddeus P. Alba said the SRA will recommend to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., the sale of 80,000 bags of sugar seized […]
Marcos orders 2-month buffer stock for sugar
THE GOVERNMENT will maintain a two-month buffer stock of sugar to contain price volatility in the commodity, Malacañang said in a statement on Monday, citing a briefing President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. delivered en route to the Davos conference in Switzerland. “We will maintain from now on, in sugar, a two-month buffer stock,” Mr. Marcos […]
Farmers say high sugar prices due to issues with distribution, retail
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) needs to address the distribution and retail portions of the sugar supply chain, which are causing prices to rise, a farm industry association said. High sugar prices are providing a pretext for the government to import sugar, shipments of which need to be “calibrated” in their arrival to avoid causing […]
Sugar repricing awaiting outcome of talks; DA may consider SRP range of P85-90/kg
THE new suggested retail price (SRP) for sugar has not yet been set pending the completion of consultations, though the Department of Agriculture (DA) cited a possible range of P85-90 per kilogram. “Pagdating sa presyo, hindi pa po tayo naglalabas ng SRP sa refined sugar. Meron pong stakeholders meeting na nagaganap ang Sugar Regulatory Association […]
Sugar producers seek price increase after storm
SUGAR PRODUCERS are lobbying the government to raise its price guidance for sugar sold by major supermarkets from the current P70 per kilogram (kg), to account for the crop damage inflicted by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng (International name: Nalgae). United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED) President Manuel R. Lamata said in a statement that the association […]
Inventory of refined sugar imports up 20% year on year at mid-October
THE inventory of imported refined sugar at mid-October is about 20% higher than their year-earlier levels, a sugar planter’s representative on the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said. Pablo Luis S. Azcona, a member of the SRA board, said the estimate for inventory levels is as of Oct. 16. He did not give specific volume estimates. […]
Sugar producers see imports for years on weak domestic output
SUGAR FARMERS said they expect imports of the commodity to continue for years due to weak domestic production and the persistence of high input costs. Rafael L. Coscolluela, an adviser to the Confederation of Sugarcane Farmers said on BusinessWorld Live on One News channel on Tuesday that the industry is facing challenges like high fuel […]
Arrival window for imported sugar extended to Oct. 31
THE Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said the arrival period for sugar ordered overseas to supplement domestic supply has been extended to the end of October due to shipping delays. Sugar Order (SO) No. 3 series of 2022-2023 issued by the SRA on Oct. 19 extended the arrival deadline for the 200,000 metric tons (MT) of […]
Supermarkets may stop selling sugar if gov’t sets P70/kg price
A PLAN announced by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to set the price of white sugar at P70 per kilogram (/kg) might lead to the withdrawal of some varieties of the commodity from supermarket shelves, an industry association said on Tuesday. Steven T. Cua, Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association […]
BoC seizes P228M worth of smuggled sugar in Manila port
THE BUREAU of Customs (BoC) on Monday said it confiscated 76 containers of refined sugar worth P228 million from Thailand. According to the BoC, the consignee failed to present an import clearance from the Sugar Regulatory Administration). The shipment arrived at the Manila International Container Port on September 24 and contained “misdeclared and undeclared” items. […]
VAT exemption for key commodities seen as negative for peso
A BILL seeking to exempt key commodities from value-added tax (VAT) carries the risk of weakening the peso by calling into doubt the government’s capacity to meet its obligations, a senior legislator said. “(The proposed measure) is going to make things worse, not better,” Albay Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente S. Salceda told reporters via Viber […]
SRP for sugar to be set by end of October
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it is planning to impose a suggested retail price (SRP) for sugar that will be acceptable to the industry and consumers. “Our objective is not only to make sugar available but also ensure prices are right. We have been speaking with the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) and we will […]
Sugar industry says yields increasing, mill downtime reduced
THE Philippine Sugar Millers Association (PSMA) said the modernization of milling operations is currently ongoing, adding that the sugar recovery rate has risen to more than 81% in the last three years, from 78% in the 1990s, while fewer mills are reporting unscheduled breakdowns. “Industry reports published by the Sugar Regulatory Administration show that sugar […]