Vietnam cut the import quota of sugar in 2011 to 250,000 tons, down 50,000 tons from 2010, according to the Circular 45/2010/TT-BCT of the Ministry of Industry and Trade(MoIT).

The ministry allowed local firms to import 150,000 tons of refined and crude sugar input to manufacture; 50,000 tons of crude sugar for sugar factories and 50,000 tons of refined sugar for traders.

The 2010-2011 sugar output is estimated to reach 1 million tons compared with 890,000 tons in the previous 2009-2010 crushing season, while sugar demand would reach 1.2 million tons next year, MoIT said.

The Southeast Asian nation consumes 80,000 tons to 100,000 tons of sugar a month, but demand could jump to 110,000-120,000 tons in the several months before Tet, or the Lunar New Year festival in February, and the mid-autumn festival.

The domestic retail prices of sugar currently stand high at above VND20,000/kg.

Sugar refineries in the Mekong Delta, one of Vietnam’s main sugarcane growing areas, in late September started their five-month crushing season, with shortages of the raw material forecast due to adverse weather and less planting acreage.

Jan 7th, 2011

Source: vietnambusiness.asia

• Is Vietnam a Market Economy? U.S. Considers Status Upgrade
• Vietnam should seize opportunity to join global semiconductor supply chain
• Green economy, digital economy breakthrough of Vietnam-China ties: PM
• ASEAN steel industry needs support for decarbonization
• The fruit and vegetable industry has plenty of room for export in the five largest markets