Local news

August 4, 2015
Sugaronline | http://goo.gl/2AAuBv

Manila expects lower sugar production for the incoming crop year because of threats of a stronger El Niño in the latter part of year, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said, according to the Philippines' Manila Times newspaper.

In a text message, SRA Administrator Ma. Regina Bautista-Martin said they expect sugar production to reach 2.3 million metric tonnes for the incoming crop year, lower than the 2.46 million target a year ago.

August 4, 2015
Sugaronline | http://goo.gl/Di6kmO

Nineteen pilot block farms showed an average increase from 50.78 Tons Cane per Hectare (TC/Ha) to 65.29 TC/Ha, or a 29% increase in farm productivity in crop year 2013/14 after being enrolled in the block farming program for a year, says the Sugar Regulatory Administration, according to the Philippines' Visayan Daily Star newspaper.

July 29, 2015
Sugaronline | http://goo.gl/IhGDCR

Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) chief Ma. Regina Martin said Monday the United States has maintained its sugar import quota for the Philippines at 142,160 metric tons raw value (MTRV) or 136,201 metric tons commercial weight, according to Interaksyon.

July 25, 2015
Manila Standard Today (Vito Barcelo) | http://goo.gl/HbhziD

The Bureau of Customs foiled an attempt to smuggle imported sugar worth P34 million at the Manila International Container Port.

Seized were 24 40-footer container vans contained at least 13,200 sacks of imported sugar that arrived at the MICP.

July 22, 2015
Sugaronline | http://goo.gl/Tg9CPY

Domestic bioethanol prices in the Philippines have hit a four-year high in June, averaging PHP56.33/litre ($1.25/litre) as domestic raw sugar production sank to a two-year low, statistics from the Sugar Regulatory Administration showed this week, according to Platts.

July 21, 2015
Sugaronline | http://goo.gl/FNbKpl

United States Trade Representative Michael Froman has announced that under the FY 2016 US sugar quota allocations, the Philippines's share will be 142,160 metric tons raw value, Sugar Regulatory Administrator Ma. Regina Martin said, according to the Philippines' Visayan Daily Star newspaper.

Of the 40 countries included in the US quota for sugar, the Philippines got the third largest allocation after the Dominican Republic with 185,335 MTRV and Brazil with 152,691 MTRV.

July 20, 2015
Sun Star Cebu | http://goo.gl/zmt5cT

REVENUE Regulation (RR) No. 6-2015 consolidates the imposition and manner of collection of the advance value-added tax or percentage tax on raw sugar and refined sugar.

July 16, 2015
Manila Standard Today (Anna E. Gonzales) | http://goo.gl/NRtsGl

Manila wants Tokyo to remove the tariff imposed on Philippine sugar exports, as part of the reduction of tariffs on farm products required under the Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement.

PJEPA is a comprehensive bilateral trade and investment agreement between Japan and the Philippines which aims to increase trade and investment opportunities between the two countries.

July 15, 2015
The Philippine Star (Roel Pareño) | http://goo.gl/ucKyg1

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Police seized a truck loaded with 4,500 kilos of alleged smuggled sugar in a village here Monday.

The truck (JDM 258) was pulled over by police officers at a checkpoint in Barangay Recodo, according to Superintendent Ariel Huesca, chief of the city police public safety company.

Huesca said the sugar were contained in 90 sacks marked MTR PHOL, each weighing 50 kilos.

July 11, 2015
Manila Standard Today (Vito Barcelo and Gabrielle Marie Consuelo H. Binaday) | http://goo.gl/OHtiJp

The Bureau of Customs has filed smuggling charges against a Cagayan de Oro firm and its importer for illegally importing from China 260,000 kilos of sugar worth more than P13 million.

Charged were Argic Dinawanao, owner of AMD Royale Enterprises, and Steve Semblante,  customs broker.

Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina said the shipment was intercepted at the Cagayan de Oro port May 24.