THE Philippines will no longer import sugar from Thailand this year because of a production surplus and low demand for the sweetener in the domestic market, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said on Friday.
“We have already communicated with our Thai counterparts that we have no intention to import sugar this crop year 2011-2012,” Ma.Regina Bautista-Martin, SRA administrator, said in a telephone interview.
The Thailand Cane and Sugar Board earlier said it was looking to export more than seven million metric tons of sugar as production reached 9.6 million metric tons (MT) this year. The TCSB also said that of the export volume, 57 percent will go to other Asean member-states.
Last year, the Philippines, through the private sector and local food exporters, imported less than 200,000 MT of Thai sugar.
The Philippines is Thailand’s fifth largest market in Asia.
“We are now closely monitoring sugar imports to prevent entry of cheap sugar. If they want to export to the Philippines, they should talk to us first,” Martin said.
The Philippines is a net exporter of sugar and protects domestic producers.
It also expects to export more than 28 percent of its production as surplus of the sweetener is expected to extend this coming 2011-2012 crop year.
As of August, the country’s sugar production reached 2.399 million MT, up by 21.73 percent from last year’s 1.970 million MT. It was also higher than the previous forecast of 1.96 million MT for the crop year that ended August.
Martin said SRA is discussing with Thai counterparts the possible measures to insulate the Philippines’ production from the prospects of tariff reduction.
“The Philippines is now studying sugar policies of Thailand to see whether it can adopt certain measures to further advance and insulate locally produced sweetener from the impact of trade liberalization on the world sugar market,” she said.
She said the Philippines should protect sugarcane farmers from the impact of foreign sugar, which is priced lower than domestic sugar. –JAMES KONSTANTIN GALVEZ REPORTER, Manila Times
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
October –
Monthly Observances:
Industry and Commerce Safety Month
National Statistics Month
Local Government Month
Consumer Welfare Month
Cooperative Month
National Quality and Productivity Improvement Month
National Health and Wellness Tourism Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Elderly Filipino Week
Week 2: National Health Education Week
Local Government Week
National Mental Health Week
October 17-23:
National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty
October 18 – 24:
United Nations Week
Last Week:
Nurses’ Week
Consumers’ Protection Week
Week of the 4th Sunday:
Barrio Farmers’ Week
Daily Observances:
First Monday (Oct 4): Universal Children’s Day i
n the Philippines
Oct 5: National Teachers’ Day
Oct 10: Local Government Day
Third Thursday (Oct 14): Conflict Resolution Day
Oct 21: Tenants’ Emancipation day
Oct 24: United Nations Day
Oct 29: National Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
