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The Department of Agriculture will ban sugar imports until mid-2026 to protect local farmers
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Farmers had raised concerns over low prices of raw sugar during the first bidding in Negros on October 9
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Sugar Regulatory Administration Board Member and Farmers’ Representative Dave Sanson recently met with Agriculture secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. and SRA administrator Paul Azcona, where it was agreed that the sugar importation program will be put on hold until local milling concludes by May-June next year
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Traders hesitated to buy sugar due to conflicting statements from farmer groups
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A two-month buffer stock of refined sugar will be maintained to stabilize market supply and prices
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Any possible imports will be classified only as reserve (C) sugar, which will not enter the domestic market directly
The Department of Agriculture (DA) will ban sugar imports until mid-2026 to protect local farmers.
Farmers had raised concerns over the low prices of raw sugar during the first bidding held in Negros on October 9.
Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Board member and Farmers’ representative Dave Sanson recently met with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. and SRA administrator Paul Azcona, where it was agreed that the sugar importation program will be put on hold until local milling concludes by May-June next year, the DA said in a press release.
According to the DA, the market hesitation stemmed from conflicting statements by farmer groups, which led major traders holding off on purchases during the auction.
“Let us be clear – there is, and never was, any talk of an importation program for Crop Year 2025-2026 until we finish significant milling, have firm production figures, and ensure any imports would only be classified as C or reserve sugar,” said Tiu-Laurel and Azcona.
The DA and SRA also agreed to maintain a two-month buffer stock of refined sugar to ensure supply stability and protect both producers and consumers from price fluctuations. Any imports that may be considered in the future will be restricted to reserve (C) sugar, which cannot enter the domestic market directly.
“This move assures our farmers 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.
DA said the sugar industry has seen consistent growth in production areas, increasing from 380,000 hectares in 2022 to 409,000 hectares this year, while both farmgate and retail prices have stayed stable.
READ: SRA suspends order regulating imports of sugar substitutes
