Two sugar industry leaders aired mixed views Sunday, Jan. 4, on the prospects of millgate sugar prices in 2026, after no upward movement was seen in December.
Manuel Lamata, United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED) president, said the prospects will be good as soon as the Department of Agriculture implements the export/import program.
That will surely bring up millgate prices for the planters, he said.
“My new year advice to the farmers is to continue planting and farming. Ups and downs in the cycle of our sugar industry is nothing new,” Lamata said.
Enrique Rojas, National Federation of Sugarcane Planters president, said “NFSP hopes for the best prices for all sugar farmers, but the demand and supply numbers are not very encouraging”.
Millgate sugar prices still hovered within the P2,200 to P2,300 per bag in December. Prices have remained within that level since the start of the crop year, he said.
Concern has been raised about the dire effects of the plunge in millgate prices on small sugarcane farmers.
Based on the latest SRA report dated November 30, 2025, the Philippines raw sugar stocks were about 370,000 mt and refined sugar stocks were 416,612 mt, Rojas said.
The total physical refined sugar stock of 416,612 mt is composed of about 350,000 mt imported sugar, comprising of carry-over importation from CY 2023-2024 and Sugar Order No. 8 importation from CY 2024-2025, he said.
“Even if we consider the December demand and supply, we are still looking at a hefty stock balance of almost 300,000 mt raw sugar and about 350,000 mt refined sugar at the start of 2026, Rojas said.
“We also have to consider that almost all sugar mills in the entire country are now operational. By February until March, our sugar mills are expected to be operating full swing and reach peak production,” he added.*