Sugar Groups Defend Questions on Price Decline

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY—There is no malice in seeking answers.

This was the assertion of the Sugar Council and the National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines (NACUSIP) as they called on the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to explain the continued decline in sugar prices, according to a press statement issued Sunday.

“As presidents of our respective organizations, it is incumbent upon us to voice the call of our members for an explanation,” the statement read.

The groups emphasized that as the government agency regulating the sugar industry, the SRA has a mandate to respond truthfully to concerns raised by stakeholders.

“To ask for an explanation should not be deemed malicious,” the statement added.

Instead, the groups outlined what they consider potentially malicious acts:

• Presenting selective data without disclosing the complete picture.
• Declaring no more sugar imports while imported sugar has already arrived and more may be forthcoming.
• Making misleading comparisons without proper historical context.
• Withholding vital and timely information from stakeholders.

The groups also cited data from the SRA’s report for the week ending October 20, 2024, noting that despite a large carryover stock from the previous year, the SRA allowed the importation of 240,000 metric tons (mt) of sugar under Sugar Order No. 5, with 135,833 mt already delivered and a balance of 104,167 mt pending.

They added that sugar withdrawals dropped by 18.38% for raw sugar and 20.18% for refined sugar compared to the same period in the previous crop year. This decline in demand has led to falling prices, in line with the law of supply and demand.

The groups criticized SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona for describing the situation as “unexplainable.”

In response, Azcona countered that claims of an oversupply were “laced with malice.”

“As of November 10, 2024, sugar production is down by 61%, and we have prepared for this with a proper buffer supply,” Azcona stated. He added that current production levels are 35–37% below last year’s figures.

The Sugar Council and NACUSIP disputed Azcona’s assessment, arguing that comparing data from October 2024 to the same period last year, which saw unusually high stocks due to unprecedented imports, is misleading.

They noted that as of October 20, 2024, total physical stocks of refined sugar stood at 323,983 mt, significantly lower than October 2023’s figure of 516,128 mt. However, they pointed out that this year’s stocks are higher than those recorded in 2020, 2021, and 2022, reinforcing claims of an oversupply.

The groups also criticized the use of November 10 data, which they said was unavailable on the SRA website as of this writing.

Addressing Azcona’s claim that the Sugar Council failed to attend an August 6 meeting, the groups stated they had consistently submitted written positions to ensure documentation and transparency.

They cited an instance where the Philippine Sugar Millers Association (PSMA) physically attended the meeting and expressed opposition to importation, but the SRA still issued Sugar Order No. 5.

The groups argued that when written submissions and meeting attendance are insufficient to make their voices heard, they are left with no choice but to turn to media.

“If the SRA Administrator thinks this is mere ‘noise,’ then so be it,” the groups said, adding that at the very least, their constituents and the public are properly informed.