Philippines may not export sugar to US this year
The Philippines may skip sugar exports to the United States this year due to domestic production shortages caused by flooding and pests. The Sugar Regulatory Administration is currently assessing whether local supply can meet national demand before finalizing export decisions.
Why it matters
The potential export halt highlights the vulnerability of the Philippine agricultural sector to climate-related disruptions and its impact on international trade commitments.
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines may not export sugar to the United States this year due to production constraints in local sugarcane, according to the Sugar Regulatory Administration.
SRA administrator and CEO Pablo Luis Azcona said local sugar production may be insufficient to meet the US export quota this year.
He said last year's floods had hit sugarcane areas, constraining local production. The ongoing red?striped soft scale (RSSI) infestation and the looming El Ni o dry spell could further weigh on harvests.
"I'm not really sure whether we will export and to what amount as of now," Azcona told reporters.
If realized, this would mark another year where the Philippines opts out of the US sugar export program. The country had already skipped raw sugar shipments in the 2021 to 2022 and the 2022 to 2023 crop years due to insufficient domestic production.
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