No shortage in sugar supply despite no importation until mid 2026 —SRA

The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said on Tuesday that there will be no shortage in the supply of sugar despite no importation until the first half of 2026. 

SRA administrator Pablo Azcona said that the country has enough buffer stock, as milling began in September. 

"Mayroon pa tayong about four million bags po na bottlers grade refined sugar na naka-reserve, so kumpleto po iyong reserve stocks natin and ongoing iyong local manufacturing po natin. So, siguradong-sigurado po wala tayong shortage na mangyayari,” said Azcona. 

(We still have about four million bags of bottlers-grade refined sugar in reserve, so our reserve stocks are complete and our local manufacturing is ongoing. So, it's absolutely certain that we won't have a shortage.) 

The SRA official, however, said that measures are in place if a sugar shortage takes place.

“It has been our experience po the last two years, three years na stable po iyong supply natin. So, wala namang need po na mag-worry iyong manufacturers and iyong beverage makers kasi po preparado po iyong gobyerno para doon.” 

(But in the meantime, it has been our experience the last two or three years that our supply is stable. So, there's no need for manufacturers and beverage makers to worry because the government is prepared for that.) 

The Department of Agriculture earlier said that there will be no sugar importation until May or June next year to address concerns over the low prices of raw sugar. 

The DA also agreed that a two-month buffer stock of refined sugar will be maintained at all times to ensure market stability. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/ VAL, GMA Integrated News