Sugar output up 5% as milling season seen to close early

Local sugar production is expected to hit 2.356 million metric tons (MMT) in the current crop year—up five percent from 2.243 MMT last year, the Sugar Regulatory Administration said Friday.

 

SRA administrator Ma. Regina Martin also said the milling season could be over by May or early June because planting started earlier, enabling sugar fields and mills to reach 1.79 MMT of the target harvest a month earlier.

 

She said that in Negros Oriental sugar mills will close for the crop year by April.

 

Of the total harvest of 2.356 MMT, 82 percent will be for domestic consumption, 8 percent for the world market, and 10 percent for the United States market.

 

Singapore, Korea, Japan and Indonesia are among the new markets for PHL sugar. SRA policy and planning manager Rosemarie Gumera said just last week 84,385 metric tons were shipped to these countries.

 

Last January, 27,000 MT of sugar were exported to the US as part of that country's sugar quota program.  — ELR, GMA News