By Lilybeth Ison/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is anticipating slightly lower sugar production this year compared to 2018’s output of 2.083 million metric tons (MT).
The SRA’s sugar output projection is now down to only 2.071 million MT.
It initially projected that output for this year will reach 2.225 million MT, but the agency revised the figure due to the problems currently confronting sugar planters.
Planters, however, said sugar output by August 31, which is the end of the current crop year, will hit the government’s forecast of 2.071 million (MT).
This will be enough to meet the country’s requirement for the sweetener, Confederation of Sugar Producers Association (Confed) Spokesman Raymond Montinola said in an interview on Wednesday.
“(Output) will be enough to supply the needs and requirements of the domestic market. As of now, if the production forecast is hit, then there is no need for importation,” he added.
Montinola said sugar planters attribute the lower production output to bad weather conditions and lack of laborers, such as sugarcane cutters.
SRA data showed the mill-site price of sugar for this year has averaged at PHP1,502.90 per 50-kilogram (LKg.), about 16.60 percent lower than last year’s average quotation of PHP1,802.01 per LKg.
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