The peak of the sugar milling season has been pushed to the end of October or November, according to the United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED).
UNIFED President Manuel Lamata revealed in an interview with Bombo Radyo Bacolod that only a few sugarcane fields have been harvested despite the official start of the milling season.
This delay is attributed to the slow growth of sugarcane caused by the lack of water due to the recent El Niño, preventing fertilizer from penetrating the soil.
Rainfall became more frequent in June, but by then, it was too late to recover the growth of the sugarcane.
Lamata explained that many sugarcane fields are still not mature, and it will take at least another month before they can yield sugar.
Some sugar planters have opted to halt their operations and wait for the next cropping season.
Due to the scarcity of harvest, the millgate price of sugar has risen to P2,791 per sack.
Lamata estimated that the sugarcane fields would fully mature by the last week of October or in November.
This delay favors sugar imports to boost supply and prevent further price increases in the market.