No sugar importation until mid 2026 —DA

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Wednesday that no sugar importation will be implemented until the end of the first half of 2026 to address concerns of the local sugar industry.

In a statement, the DA said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Administrator Paul Azcona, and SRA Board Member and Farmers’ Representative Dave Sanson held a meeting “to address concerns over the low prices of raw sugar seen during the first sugar bidding in Negros on October 9.”

The agency said sugar biddings are held weekly throughout the harvest season, typically spanning 38 weeks.

However, the DA said that initial discussions with sugar traders revealed market hesitation which resulted from speculations of an importation program.

To restore confidence among farmers, millers, and traders, Tiu Laurel, Azcona, and Sanson jointly assured stakeholders that “no sugar importation is planned until the end of the current milling season, projected between May and June 2026.”

“Let us be clear—there is, and never was, any talk of an importation program for Crop Year 2025-2026 until we finish significant milling, have firm production figures, and ensure any imports would only be classified as C or reserve sugar,” according to Tiu Laurel.

The DA said that Tiu Laurel, Azcona, and Sanson also agreed that a two-month buffer stock of refined sugar will be maintained at all times to ensure market stability. 

“This move assures our farmers that the current administration prioritizes their welfare. It’s a welcome development, and we hope this stabilizes prices now that speculation has been addressed,” said Sanson.

Since 2022, the DA said the local sugar industry has seen a steady expansion in planted areas—from 380,000 hectares to 409,000 this year. 

The Agriculture Department said that under the current SRA leadership, led by  

Tiu Laurel and Azcona, “farmgate prices have remained stable, encouraging more farmers to grow sugarcane.”

The DA added that retail prices have also held steady, “benefiting both farmers and consumers, many of whom come from sugarcane-growing communities.” —VAL, GMA Integrated News