Imported sugar from Thailand arriving next week

The government expects the price of local sugar to finally go down as the imported supply of refined sugar — bulk of which will be coming from Thailand — may finally enter the country next week.

Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Roland Beltran said that by next week, portion of the 200,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar to be imported from other countries will start arriving in the Philippines.

"The importation of 15,000 bags of refined sugar will land first week of July and every week thereafter totalling 200,000 bags for July 2018," Beltran said in a text message. A bag contains 50 kilos of the sweetener.

This first batch of imported supply was obtained by one importer alone and was "most likely" bought from Thailand, as per Beltran.

The entry of imported sugar in the country is expected to arrest the rising cost of sugar.

As of June 22, the price of of raw sugar per 50-kilo bag in Metro Manila already went up to as high as R2,270 and averaged around R2,148.00, compared to its September prices — or just when the current crop year was about to start — which only averaged at R1,564.64.

The price for refined sugar, on the other hand, surged to R3,020 per 50-kilo bag, while it averaged around R2,904.00. This was also higher than the September prices, which only stood at R2,016.67 to R2,040.

Per kilogram (kg), the retail price of sugar is also up from R41 per kg to R55 per kg, while refined sugar costs R60 per kg to R68 per kg.

"We are urging the importers to hasten the process of importation so that imported supply will arrive soonest to augment sugar supply and stabilize prices. SRA already issued the necessary Sugar Order for the importation program. The ball is now on the hands of the importers," Beltran said.