THAILAND: 2009/10 sugar exports seen lower
Published: 03/17/2010, 3:58:36 PM
Thai sugar exports in the 2009/10 crop year ending Sept. 30 are expected to fall on year as a result of lower output and higher allocation for domestic sales, according to Dow Jones.
"Exports will be around 4.7 million tonnes; this is just an estimate, not the actual number," said Prasert Tapaneeyangkul, secretary general of Thailand's Office of Cane and Sugar Board.
Thailand exported 5.1 million tonnes of raw and refined sugar in 2008/09, up from 4.88 million tonnes in 2007/08.
Total sugar output this crop year is estimated around 6.8 million-6.9 million metric tonnes, down from 7.19 million tonnes in 2008/09, said Prasert.
The latest estimate shows a slight improvement in crop outlook from the 6.62 million tonnes estimated in early February by the agency that reports to the Ministry of Industry.
Thailand, Asia's largest exporter, earlier this month raised the quota for domestic sales by 100,000 tonnes to 2.2 million tonnes to increase domestic supply after exports surged following the rally in prices at the start of the year.
Prasert added the ongoing crushing will probably finish by the end of this month, slightly earlier than usual, as a serious drought in the northern part of the country hit the cane output.