Phl to export sugar to US amid ample supply

The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) last week assured the public that the country’s sugar supply remains sufficient and prices remain generally stable, even as the Philippines gears up to export over 66,000 metric tons of sugar to the United States this April.

Speaking during the Bagong Pilipinas interview, SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said the industry remains in good shape, with both raw and refined sugar stocks sufficient due to the ongoing harvest season.

“Yung supply natin ng raw sugar or brown sugar and refined sugar or white sugar ay sapat sa ngayon and harvest season pa po ngayon,” he said.

Azcona noted that farmgate prices have remained firm while retail prices have eased, reflecting a balanced and steady market.

“Sa presyohan po, ang presyo sa farmers natin tumaas siya and nasa level siya more or less the same as last year. At the same time po, however, yung retail natin ng raw sugar or brown sugar ay bumaba in terms of prices,” he added.

According to Azcona, retail prices dropped by 11% for raw or brown sugar (now at P73 per kilo), 12% for washed sugar (P76), and 1% for refined sugar (P86).

However, SRA also observed a decline in overall demand. Industry data showed a 4% drop in refined sugar consumption and a steeper 32% plunge in demand for imported sugar.

“Yung demand natin sa imported bumaba ng 32 (percent), as a whole, bumaba ng 4 percent. Itong pagbaba na-notice namin, this started when tumaas yung price ng sugar noong 2022 August,” Azcona explained.

He added that the shift was partly due to consumers turning to sugar alternatives.

Despite the domestic surplus, the Philippines will soon export sugar to the US under a voluntary quota program. Azcona confirmed the country is ready to ship 66,235 metric tons after coordinating with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

“Sumulat na po tayo sa USDA, sumagot na po sila. Yung sinukat natin is 66,000, ang sagot nila is 66,235 metric tons. Yung cause of the difference is the different measuring units, iba yung ginagamit ng US compared sa atin na metric system,” he said.

This move is covered under Sugar Order No. 5, which governs the export of farmers’ share of raw sugar to fulfill the 2025 US sugar quota and secures participation in future import programs.

Exports will also adhere to Sugar Order No. 2, a performance-based system that mandates exporters to buy local sugar before being granted export allocations, ensuring that local producers continue to benefit from the arrangement.

“So sa ngayon na pag-usapan na yung 66,235 (metric tons), hinihintay na lang po ng SRA yung update ng mga exporters sa barko nila at sa schedule po nila,” Azcona said.

He also noted that this year’s shipment is scheduled earlier to avoid quality issues and penalties encountered during last year’s late exports. Sending out freshly milled sugar during peak production months, he said, guarantees compliance with US quality standards.