DA, SRA assure stakeholders: No new sugar imports until June 2026
The government said on Wednesday that it would not authorize the entry of imported sugar until the middle of 2026 to alleviate concerns over low sugar prices caused by market uncertainty.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said no importation is planned until the end of the current milling season, estimated between May and June next year.
“Let us be clear—there was never any talk of an importation program for Crop Year 2025-2026,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said in a joint statement.
They made the pronouncement “to restore confidence” among sugar farmers, millers and traders.
According to DA officials, the low prices of raw sugar observed during the first sugar bidding held in Negros on Oct. 9 were taken up in a recent meeting.
Market hesitation
“Initial discussions with sugar traders revealed market hesitation, largely influenced by conflicting statements from various sugarcane farmer groups. As a result, major traders refrained from purchasing sugar during the previous bidding,” the DA and SRA said.
Sugar bidding takes place weekly during the harvest season, lasting for about 38 weeks.
Data from the SRA showed that sugar prices reached P2,350 per 50-kilogram bag as of Aug. 24.
The SRA earlier said the milling season for crop year 2025-2026 would officially begin on Oct. 1 this year. But it added that mills can begin operations on Sept. 29 for practical purposes.
Tiu Laurel and Azcona said importation would only be considered once a significant portion of milling has been completed and firm production figures are available.
Both officials also said any imports would be classified as “C” or reserve sugar and would not enter the domestic market directly.
David Andrew Sanson, who represents farmers at the SRA board, welcomed this pronouncement as it shows that the current administration prioritizes their welfare.
“It’s a welcome development, and we hope this stabilizes prices now that speculation has been addressed,” Sanson said.
Meanwhile, the DA and SRA said a two-month buffer stock of refined sugar would be maintained at all times to ensure market stability.
