Manila: Philippines is likely to witness a sugar shortage as the local production has been reported to be lower than expected and delay in the import of 200,000 tonnes of refined sugar, said the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) on Wednesday.
As per the new estimates, the raw sugar output would be at 1.8 million tonnes by August 31 as compared with the average annual demand of 2.03 million tonnes in the past three crop years, said the agency.
The unfavourable weather conditions and a powerful typhoon has affected the plantation this season, said SRA.
This would increase the inflation in the country which is already at its peak in the last three years due to high fuel and food costs.
SRA Administrator Hermenegildo Serafica said that the prices have peaked and we may face a shortage of the commodity.
