THAILAND: Drought to hit next year’s cane crop
Published: 03/15/2010, 11:17:44 AM
An ongoing drought in Thailand is expected to cut the country's coming sugar cane crop, after having hit this year's production and yield, according to Dow Jones.
Prasert Tapaneeyangkul, secretary-general of the Office of Cane and Sugar Board, said sugar cane output for the 2010/11 crop year, starting Oct. 1, will likely total 71 million-72 million metric tonnes at the most.
The agency under the Ministry of Industry estimated 2009/10 cane output at 68 million-69 million tonnes.
"It (the drought) is getting serious. The water reservoir is at a critical level now," he said.
The drought has affected major sugar and rice growing regions in the north and northeast, resulting in the Mekong River reaching its lowest level in nearly 20 years due to low monsoon rainfall.
As a result, the expected rebound in Thai sugar production prompted by high sugar prices may not materialise.