The Sugar Regulatory Administration is studying means of hastening the country’s sugar exportation, SRA Administrator Regina Bautista-Martin said yesterday.

Some sugar planters and millers have suggested to Martin that the Philippines ship sugar to the U.S. at a much earlier date than usual and tap the world export market to help relieve pressure in the domestic market, a press release from SRA said.

To date, the country has 40,952.80 metric tons on “A” or U.S. Quota sugar and 55,853.24 metric tons of “D” or World Market sugar on stock and ready for export, the press release said.

Sugar milling started September 1 and more mills commenced operations early for crop year 2012-13 compared to the previous crop year. As of September 30 there are already nine mills in operation, a significant jump from the three mills that started during the same period in crop year 2011-12, Martin said, in the press release.

With more mills grinding cane, production in the initial weeks of the crop year was significantly high. In the first four weeks of milling in crop year 2012-13, the Philippines has produced 73,528.03 metric tons, indicating an increase of 395% percent when compared to the 14,824.39 metric tons production in October 2011, the SRA press release also said.

It explained that the increase in production at this early stage is attributable to the early start of milling of sugar mills in Negros.

The early shipment of “A” and “D” sugar is a response to the growing volume of available sugar in the country, the SRA press release said.

The sugar producers said the country must take advantage of the available stocks on hand and work for their export to their destined market, it added.

Last crop year the Philippines exported more than 200,000 metric tons to the United States and about 326,000 metric tons to the World market, the press release added.*

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