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Philippines Sugar Exports to US to DoubleMANILA Philippines - Shipments of Philippines sugar to the United States is expected to double in 2006. According to US Trade Representative Rob Portma, the US is increasing last year’s Philippine sugar quota (35,000-metric tons) by an additional 37,037 metric tons. Overall, the US will import an additional 272,155 metric tons of raw sugar this year due to a drastic drop in US sugarcane crops caused by three hurricanes. Furthermore, damage assessment has not been completed and there is still a chance that the US raw and refined tariff rate quotas for the Philippine sugar may still increase. The Philippines Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has already increased to 10 percent the share of domestic sugar production that will be allocated for sale to the US market. "We are prepared to service a major traditional trading sugar partner," SRA Administrator James Ledesma said, emphasizing that the US market is a premium market and Philippine sugar fetches a higher price. Due to the increased demand for Philippine sugar worldwide, prices remained high and continues to benefit the local sugar farmers. In addition, the Philippine Congress is soon expected to approve the proposed National Bioethanol Program bill that will give sugar farmers an additional use for their output, which is estimated to reach two million metric tons. Currently, domestic production of Philippines sugar and allocated into 10 percent "A"(US sugar), 70 percent "B" (domestic sugar), and 20 percent "C"(reserve sugar), which is necessary to ensure stable prices at levels reasonably profitable to producers and fair to the consumers. 2/2/2006
Top of Philippine News: Philippines Sugar
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