Bacolod City: A senior official of the Sugar Regulatory Administration urged industry players to work together on long-term solutions as sugar prices at the mill level began to recover last week, reports the Philippine News Agency.
In a statement released Monday, Sugar Board Member David Andrew Sanson, who represents sugar planters, stressed the importance of sustained measures to deal with ongoing issues in production, pricing, marketing, and other concerns affecting the sugar sector.
Sanson welcomed the recent increase in the prices of sugar and molasses, noting that the upward movement started last week.
The official, who comes from Negros Occidental, the country’s leading sugar-producing province, said mills in the northern part of the province have already recorded notable price gains, while mills in the south are expected to see similar improvements soon.
During last week’s bidding, sugar prices climbed to between PHP2,300 and PHP2,400 per 50-kilo bag. This followed more than three months when prices remained stuck between PHP2,100 and PHP2,200.
Molasses prices also rose past PHP9,000, up from the previous range of PHP7,000 to PHP8,000 in recent months.
Sanson attributed the price improvement mainly to the export program approved by the Sugar Board. He said the plan had been in the works since November last year, despite opposition from some federations and other stakeholders.
He recalled that certain groups had pushed for a policy declaring there would be no sugar importation until December 2026, believing this alone would cause prices to rise. According to Sanson, this approach did not deliver the expected results, prompting the board to proceed with its own program, which he said is now benefiting farmers through higher sugar and molasses prices.
He warned that the industry cannot afford a repeat of the past three months, when prices fell below the break-even level for some farmers, especially small-scale producers.
Sanson emphasised the need for unity and cooperation, calling on all sectors to focus on a long-term plan that ensures fair prices, encourages open-minded discussion, and puts aside differences for the overall welfare of the sugar industry.
