The United States Department of Agriculture-Foreign Agricultural Service in Manila projected that the Philippines will not import raw sugar in MY 2025 as the government “seeks to protect local producers.”MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines may not import sugar in the next market year 2025 as stocks remain ample from carryover of previous import programs, an international agency said.
USDA-FAS Manila added that it does not see the country importing refined sugar as well given the huge importations made in previous market years, resulting in high carryover stocks. The USDA-FAS Manila estimated that the country will begin the next market year with 1.19 million MT of combined raw and refined sugar stocks.
“With high prices, farmers expanded sugarcane area, but some farms with no irrigation are suffering from the ongoing El Niño, which stunted sugarcane growth,” it said. “Sugarcane was not affected as much as expected compared to earlier predictions of a 10 to 15 percent drop in production due to El Niño,” the USDA-FAS Manila said, referring to raw sugar output in MY 2024.