DA: No sugar imports in current crop year

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has stood firm on its decision not to import sugar for the current milling season in a bid to stabilize sugar prices that have been weighed down by market uncertainty.

- DEXTER BARRO II

In a statement on Wednesday, Oct. 15, the DA reiterated the government policy earlier issued by the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to address concerns over the low prices of raw sugar.

According to reports, low prices were recorded during the first sugar bidding held on Negros Island last week.

Farmers were quick to raise concerns, fearing that such prices might persist throughout the weekly sugar biddings, which run for 38 weeks over the harvest season.

The DA said initial discussions with sugar traders revealed hesitation in the market, fueled by conflicting statements from various sugarcane farmer groups.

"As a result, major traders refrained from purchasing sugar during the previous bidding," it said.