Sugar output sustains 2-digit growth

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s sugar production continued its double-digit growth in the second week of November, rising by 22.28 percent, latest data from the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) showed.

Figures from the SRA showed that raw sugar production reached 295,225 metric tons (MT) as of Nov.14, up from  241,430 MT in the same period last year.

Output in terms of 50-kilogram bags reached 5.9 million, higher than the 4.8 million a year ago.

This brought the current raw sugar supply to 547,632 MT, up by 10.37 percent from the previous crop year.

The sugar crop year starts every September and ends in August.

SRA data also showed that demand for raw sugar rose by  13.46 percent to 325,010 MT.

The total sugarcane milled increased by 16.1 percent to 3.6 million MT.

SRA data also showed that the millgate price of sugar went up by 11.05 percent to P1,677.06 per 50-kilo bag.

For the current crop year, the SRA estimates raw sugar production to reach 2.0997 million MT.

The SRA also allocated the entire sugar production for the current crop year for the “B” market.

It classifies sugar into “A” for sugar for export to the US, “B” for domestic consumption, “C” for reserves, “D” for export to countries other than the US and “E” for food local processors.

In allocating the entire production for the domestic market, the SRA took into consideration statements from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) on the reemergence of the La Niña phenomenon either in late October or November this year until the first quarter of 2022, which encompasses almost all sugar producing provinces at their start and peak milling for the crop year.