Metro Manila, Philippines — The government will import 240,000 metric tons of refined sugar by September to make sure stocks are enough in the aftermath of El Niño losses.

Sugar Order No. 5, dated Thursday, Aug. 8, will be the first sugar import program for Crop Year 2023-2024 and for the Production Crop Year 2023-2024.

“Despite the relatively stable supply and prices of sugar as of end of June 2024, the finite supply of sugar and the effect of El Niño on sugar farming necessitates a pre-emptive and decisive action on the part of the government in order to ensure a reasonable and stable supply and price thereof,” the document read.

Eligible importers are those who participated in previous Sugar Orders No. 2 and 3 that are licensed Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) International Sugar Trader in good standing.

Imports are expected to arrive around Sept. 15.

“Any imported volume of refined sugar that arrives under this sugar order shall be classified as ‘C’ (‘reserve sugar’) subject to future disposition or reclassification, as SRA deems necessary,” the order said.

According to the order, the applications and requirements will be accepted from the effectivity date and until five working days.

Import allocations will be awarded within five working days from the expiration of the period for the acceptance of applications, it added.

As of July 21, SRA data showed total physical refined sugar stocks at 396,339.10 metric tons, which was around 18% lower than last year’s 483,373.45 MT.

In April, the United States Department of Agriculture forecasted the country’s raw sugar production in 2024 at 1.85 million metric tons, as the El Niño phenomenon “stunted sugarcane growth and could result in lower yields in MY (marketing year) 2025.”

NewsWatch Plus Multiplatform Producer Jelo Ritzhie Mantaring contributed to this report.