SRA attributed the slow start of the milling season to the El Niño phenomenon.*Ronnie Baldonado photo
The Sugar Council and the National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry (NACUSIP) said the recent pronouncements made by the Sugar Regulatory Administration on the “96 percent decrease in sugar production in the first three weeks of milling” do not provide enough basis at this time for making conclusions about the new crop.
The two groups in a statement issued on Wednesday, Oct. 9, said SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona’s comparing two separate periods can be misleading.
The country’s sugar production dropped by 96 percent in the first three weeks of the milling season that started on Sept. 15 compared to the start last year, Azcona said on Friday, Oct. 4.
Azcona attributed the slow start of the milling season to the El Niño phenomenon but assured that the country has adequate supply of refined sugar.
Azcona assured that there will not be a shortage of refined sugar because on August 6 they decided to import, which has enabled retail prices to remain stable.
Records show that a total of nine sugar centrals were already milling in September 23 last year and produced a total of 61,285 metric tons, the Sugar Council and NACUSIP said in their joint statement.
In comparison, only one mill operated in September 24 and produced 5,645 metric tons of sugar, or 90 percent lower output compared to the same period last year, they added.
But all it means is that milling of the new crop was off to a slow start, most likely due to the delay caused by the long dry season that hit Negros this year, they said. The standing crop, per field observation, seems to be recovering well, they said.
The report, however, might have created the impression that sugar production will drop precipitously, justifying more importation to prematurely cover a projected shortage, the two groups added.
“But we cannot be guided by speculation or misimpressions. We reiterate – SRA needs to publish its official crop estimate for the incoming crop and its corresponding supply-demand projections from September onward, and then come up with its proposed policy,” they said.
SRA has the resources and mandate to provide the needed information. Unfortunately, this is not available as of this writing, they said.
Finally, SRA has stated that 134,780 metric tons were produced during the first three weeks last year as basis for its claimed 96 percent drop, they noted.
“That figure is different from the 61,285 metric tons reflected in official records. We hope SRA can clarify the figures for everyone’s guidance,” the two groups said.*