Bacolod-Philippines: No sugar imports until 2026 – SRA, DA
The Department of Agriculture and Sugar Regulatory Administration confirmed no sugar imports are planned until the end of the 2025–26 milling season. Officials said all possible imports would only be classified as reserve sugar. The assurance followed concerns over falling millgate prices, now around P2,200 per 50-kg bag—below production costs.
BACOLOD CITY – The Department of Agriculture and the Sugar Regulatory Administration have assured stakeholders that no sugar importation is planned until the end of the current milling season which is projected between May and June 2026.
“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,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel and SRA administrator Pablo Luis Azcona disclosed in a joint statement.
Laurel, Azcona, and SRA Board Member Dave Sanson recently met to address concerns over the low prices of raw sugar seen during the first sugar bidding in Negros on October 9.
Sugar bidding is held weekly throughout the harvest season, typically spanning 38 weeks.
Initial discussions with sugar traders revealed market hesitation, largely influenced by conflicting statements from various sugarcane farmer groups, according to a joint statement of the DA and SRA.
As a result, major traders refrained from purchasing sugar during the previous bidding.
In the same meeting, it was agreed that a two-month buffer stock of refined sugar will be maintained at all times to ensure market stability.
All sugar imports, if any, will continue to be classified strictly as reserve (C) sugar and not enter the domestic market directly, the joint statement further said.
“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.”
Since 2022, the sugar industry has seen a steady expansion in planted areas – this year to 409,000 hectares from 380,000.
Under the leadership of Laurel and Azcona, farmgate prices have remained stable, encouraging more farmers to grow sugarcane. Retail prices have also held steady, benefiting both farmers and consumers, many of whom come from sugarcane-growing communities, the DA and SRA joint statement further said.
Government intervention is being sought to immediately address the plummeting prices of sugar, as Negros Island Region solons urged the Sugar Regulatory Administration to issue a transparent and data-based explanation on why it has plunged to a level below the estimated production cost.
The 10 lawmakers in Negros Island Region on Tuesday urged the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to immediately address and issue a transparent and data-based explanation on the sharp the decline in sugar prices.
Recent reports show the millgate price for sugar has plunged to about P2,200 per 50-kilogram bag, a level nearly P300 below the estimated production cost, the legislators said in a joint statement.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental also passed a resolution on Tuesday, urgently requesting government to immediately intervene, stressing that small sugar farmers are getting the brunt of low prices in sugar.
That is why, we have to act swiftly and immediately, Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao said, noting that the main source of local income of Himamaylan City comes from the sugar industry.
The Himamaylan SP also called on national government agencies, such as the Departments of Justice, Agriculture, and Economy, Planning and Development, among others, to look into why prices of sugar have drastically gone down.
Gatuslao, who is also the provincial chairman of National Movement of Young Legislators, said he also shared the sentiments of the Himamaylan City Council to other NMYL members, who assured him that they will adopt a similar resolution in their respective councils.
In a joint statement, the Negros lawmakers warned that price collapse could worsen poverty in rural sugar districts, where more than 60 percent of households depend on sugarcane, as either principal or supplementary income.
Negros lawmakers also called on relevant agencies and stakeholders to act with urgency and accountability to cushion the blow of collapsing sugar prices and restore stability to the industry.
Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez earlier filed a resolution in the House of Representatives seeking an investigation into the sudden and significant decrease in the prices of sugar.
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