The Philippines’ sugarcane production for crop year 2024-2025 is projected to reach 1.837 million metric tons (MT), up nearly 5 percent from the initial estimate of 1.782 million MT.
The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said that based on the latest industry update, total output reached 1.815 million MT, driven by higher cane tonnage per hectare despite lower sugar yield per ton of cane (LKGTC).
“We are ending on a positive note, thanks largely to this administration’s continued efforts to stabilize prices since 2022,” said SRA administrator Pablo Azcona.
He said fair farmgate prices encouraged farmers to replant their El Niño-damaged crops using new SRA-developed varieties.
He said sugar stakeholders across the industry are hopeful that prices will offset the high cost of production.
The Visayas remains the country’s sugar production hub, accounting for 71 percent of the total output.
Negros Island accounts for 63 percent, followed by Panay at 6.3 percent, with the remainder coming from Cebu and Leyte plantations.
Mindanao, seen as the next growth frontier for the sugar industry, is expected to account for nearly 24 percent of total production. Luzon contributes around 5 percent.
Azcona said the initial estimate was conservative, based on the anticipated damage from the extreme El Niño.
He said the SRA’s investments in research, ranging from new sugarcane varieties to better soil, irrigation and climate-adaptive cropping calendars, are expected to boost cane tonnage and, more importantly, improve sugar recovery per ton of cane.
Mindanao posted the highest average LKGTC at 1.74, followed by Negros at 1.65, with Panay and Luzon both averaging 1.54.
The URC La Carlota Sugar Mill has completed its milling season, while Binalbagan-Isabela Sugar Company (BISCOM) and URC SONEDCO are expected to close operations this week.