SRA urged to explain sugar export

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Merits of exporting 25,300 metric tons of raw sugar to the United States while importing 200,000 MT of refined sugar must be carefully explained by the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), according to Negros Occidental 5th District Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo III.

“They just need to be transparent about everything so that we can allay any fears on what’s going to happen,” Yulo, a former SRA board member, said yesterday at a press briefing.

On Tuesday, 25,300 MT of raw sugar loaded in cargo vessel Tate J left the Bredco Port in Bacolod City to fill the Philippines’ share of the US sugar quota.

Sugar Order No. 3 allows “the Philippines to fulfill its US quota allocation of 25,300 MT,” the first sugar export this year to participate in future import programs.

“This will balance out the supply of raw sugar in the country when milling starts this September,” SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said earlier.

The Philippines’ last shipment to the US was in crop year 2020–2021, when it shipped 112,008 MT of commercial raw sugar.

The country plans to import around 200,000 MT of refined sugar later this year, to fill an anticipated supply gap and ensure price stability.

Yulo said the Philippines should be putting up its “own sugar to ensure sufficient supply. Let’s keep our sugar all domestic, particularly for SO 1.”

In its SO 1 series of 2023-2024, the SRA said sugar production is expected to be around 1.85 million MT.

The SRA estimates a 10 to 15 percent drop in domestic production, depending on El Niño’s severity.