SUGAR

IMPORTATION
BAN
Conato Jr., Rene | Marta, John Kenneth | Varias, Nathaniel

BS ECON 4-6 ECON 126

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Background Sugar Expected

of the Policy Importation Ban Outcome
Background of the Policy

According to the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), from

September 2017 to August 2018 sugarcane production in the
Philippines declined by 417,000 metric tons compared to the
previous year. This squeeze on supply caused the price of a
kilogram of refined sugar to jump from 53 to 64 pesos.

Rivera (2023) reported that at least 550,000 metric tons (MT) of

sugar were imported this current year 2023:

- 400,000 MT was permitted through Sugar Order 6, and

- 150,000 MT was permitted through Sugar Order 7.
Sugar Importation Ban

The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) issued a resolution

holding the release of 150,000 metric tons of imported sugar to
protect the interest of local producers (CNN Philippines, 2023).

SRA Resolution 2023-159, dated Sept. 26 (and published on

Oct. 12) lifted the deadline for the 30-day "conversion and
disposition" of imported refined sugar under Sugar Order No. 7
until further notice.

The order, which was issued in July, requires importers to

distribute their stocks until Oct. 15.
Expected Outcome
Part of SRA order reads, “this will allow the regulator to
“maintain a reasonable volume of sugar available for domestic
use, protect the interests of farmers and millers, and sustain a
reasonable farmgate price of raw sugar of about P3,000 per bag.”

The SRA estimates the total local sugar production to reach

1.85 million MT for crop year 2023 to 2024 or from Sept. 1, 2023 to
Aug. 30, 2024 (CAriaso, 2023).

Based on the Department of Agriculture monitoring in Metro

Manila markets, the retail prices of refined sugar ranged between
P82 and P110 per kilo; washed sugar, between P79 and P95 per kilo
and brown sugar, between P75 and P95 per kilo.
References

Cariaso, B. (2023, October 12). Release of sugar imports suspended as farmgate price drops. Philstar.com.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/10/13/2303355/release-sugar-imports-suspended-farmg

ate-price-drops?fbclid=IwAR0c-P-Ai9c-MpHH6OxOnqjp36cv7cgi9lwWjHtOWRZwxhzDwBspjc6Dfwc

Regulator halts release of 150,000 MT imported sugar. (2023, October 12). CNN Philippines.

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/10/12/SRA-holds-release-imported-sugar.html

Rivera, D. (2023, July 7). Philippines importing another 150,000 MT of sugar in September. Philstar.com.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/07/08/2279460/philippines-importing-another-150000-mt-sugar

-september
 THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING AND
HAVE A SWEET DAY!