Sugar Regulatory Administration places retail price of sugar at P52 per kilo

MANILA, Philippines - The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) reiterated yesterday that prevailing and average sugar prices “remain within the suggested retail price (SRP) of P52 per kilogram for refined sugar.”

The SRA was reacting to reports the SRP of sugar had risen by P2 per kilo.

The agency likewise said while wet markets monitored by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) last June 16 showed some stores have been monitored to be selling at more than the SRP, it assured that “these are the exceptions rather than the rule.”

The SRA further clarified that “the prices reported are in the higher end of the range and do not reflect the majority of the stores selling sugar.”

The Department of Agriculture has issued a show cause orderto the stores selling beyond the SRP. If the stores are found to be overpricing, a case will be filed against them, the DA said.

The BAS survey showed that the prevailing price for raw sugar is P46 per kilo with prices ranging from a low of P43 to a high of P48; for washed, the prevailing price is P48/k but the prices range from a low of P46 to a high of P52, and for refined sugar, the prevailing is P52/k with prices ranging from a low P49 to a high of P58.

However, in groceries and supermarkets, the prevailing raw sugar price is P44/k with prices ranging from a low of P39.15 to a high of P51.50; for washed, the prevailing price is P48/k with prices ranging from a low of P43 and a high of P51.75 and for refined sugar, the prevailing price P52/k with prices ranging from P46.30 to P55.