Sugar output beats gov’t goal

The country’s sugar production in the current crop year is expected to reach 1.84 million metric tons (MT), three percent higher than the government’s initial forecast of 1.78 million MT, as the industry steadily recovers from the El Niño phenomenon last year.

- By DEXTER BARRO II

Data from the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) showed that sugar output is on track to exceed the projection, with 1.82 million metric tons already produced before the end of the crop year.

In the Philippines, the crop year for the commodity begins on Sept. 1 and ends on Aug. 31 of the following year.

SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said the increase in sugar production this year is attributed to the rise in sugarcane tonnage per hectare planted, which offset the lower-than-average sugar producer per ton of cane (LKGTC).