The Indonesian Sugar Council recommends the country to import 240,000 tons of raw sugar this year to help meet domestic demand.
Minister of Agriculture Suswono, who is also Chairman of the council, said on Tuesday the import is required because there’s a prediction of sugar deficit of 261,000 tons this year. He said that domestic white crystal sugar stock as of May 2012 will only reach 599,000 tons, while demand in the first quarter is estimated at 860,000 tons.
“Therefore, there’s an estimated deficit of 261,000 tons until May 31,” Suswono said.
He explained that May 2012 599,000 tons sugar stock was a result of stock until January 31, 2012 of 530,500 tons plus white crystal sugar production of 68,300 tons during January-April 2012 in Sumatra.
He said that domestic demand is estimated at around 220,000 tons per month. Suswono said that although deficit is estimated at 261,000 tons, the Council has only recommended the Ministry of Trade to import only 240,000 tons of raw sugar.
He said that the raw sugar import will be processed at home into white crystal sugar, for markets in the eastern part of Indonesia as production in other parts of the country is sufficient to meet demand. (rei)
