The Confederation of Sugar Producers’ Association (CONFED) has expressed concern over news reports of government’s plan to import 200,000 metric tons of refined sugar in September.
CONFED President Aurelio Gerardo J. Valderrama aired the concern in a letter to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. on Friday, June 28.
He said the report on the importation of 200,000 MT did not include any basis for such a plan. Neither was any stakeholder consultation conducted, Valderrama added.
Valderrama, in his letter to Laurel, cited available data from the SRA, dated June 9, 2024, indicating adequate sugar inventory levels of both raw (436,229 MT) and refined (492,985 MT) sugar.
“Current rates of withdrawal indicate that the local inventory can last without importation until the start of the milling season later this year,” Valderrama said.
Valderrama pointed out that the SRA has not yet announced official start of milling for Crop Year 2024-2025. No crop estimates have yet been made for the new crop year, which has been affected by the El Niño phenomenon, he said.
CONFED is asking SRA to begin consulting with the industry to discuss sugar policy for CY 2024-2025, he said.
“Consistent with our frequently-stated position, we reiterate that any sugar importation plan should be data-based, calibrated, totally transparent and fair, done in consultation with industry stakeholders and therefore immune from speculation and manipulation”, Valderrama said in his letter.
Sugar Regulatory Administrator Pablo Azcona said on Thursday that the 200,000 MT is not a definite figure as importation will be based on the stock inventory in September when the milling season starts.*