Sugar production in the Philippines suffered an 11% decrease by October 22, 2017. This was disclosed by the Sugar Regulatory Authority (SRA).
Production fell to 100,995 metric tons (MT) based on data on crop year 2017 – 2018 wherein the spiral reached down to 2.01 million od 50kilogram bags from 2.3 million 50 kilogram bags in 2016.
It must be noted that the country's raw sugar demand was at 33% higher at 323,402 MT. This can be attributed also to the total number of sugarcanes milled at the same period that declined by 10% to 1.3 million MT.
Eight mills have started milling as of October 22, 2017, namely Biscom, First Farmers, Hawaiian, La Carlota, Sagay, URC-Sonedco and Victorias, where more than half or 57 percent came from Victorias.
Another item to be considered is that in terms of refined sugar, production nearly tripled to 29,602 MT from 10,143 MT.
Sugar prices at the mill gate declined 19% to P1,229 per 50-kg bag.
Wholesale and retail prices for raw, washed, and refined sugar also saw lower prices.
The Sugar industry sector has been beset by problems, particularly the issue of importation of corn-based fructose sugar that the local softdrinks industry saw as more cheaper than purchasing locally produced sugar from sugarcanes.
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