By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD CITY — Sugar Regulatory Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona revealed that sugar production in the Philippines dropped by 96 percent during the first three weeks of the current milling season compared to the same period last year.
“In the first three weeks of milling last year, we started on September 1. This year, we began on September 15. Comparing the first three weeks, production is 96 percent lower this year,” Azcona told reporters over the weekend.
He added that “the output, or sugar produced, is only 5,600 metric tons for the first three weeks, compared to over 130,000 metric tons last year. That’s a significant difference.”
Azcona noted that while many mills and sugar organizations claimed they were prepared for the milling season, the actual sugar production has been much lower than anticipated.
“We hoped the delay was due to the effects of El Niño, but it appears that farmers are not yet ready to mill. They believe their sugarcane is still growing and expect better yields if they wait a little longer. As a result, the peak of milling will be slightly delayed,” he said.
Azcona assured that the country has sufficient sugar supply, emphasizing that there will be no need for additional importation.
“We already approved an importation plan on August 6. We’re importing refined sugar, while our farmers are producing raw sugar. As of now, the supply remains stable,” he stressed.
Retail prices, which are crucial for consumers, have also remained stable, he added.
The approval includes the importation of 240,000 metric tons, with 176,000 metric tons covered under Sugar Order No. 2, while the remainder will come from exports. “We exported about 24,000 tons, but I’m not privy to all the details since some of the exported sugar was deducted from Sugar Order No. 2,” Azcona explained.
He further mentioned that imported sugar has already started arriving. “We gave the importers a soft deadline to bring it in as soon as possible.”
By the time local refiners finish milling, which could be in early or mid-December if we’re fortunate, the imports will be complete, he added.
Azcona expects the peak of the milling season to occur by the last week of October or early November this year.
