Gov’t numbers show sugar prices improved, but local farmers say otherwise

Are official price figures masking deeper problems in the sugar supply chain?

After months of weak prices, sugar is allegedly paying again, and the shift is being felt where it hurts and matters most.

Millgate sugar prices climbed to around ₱2,400 per 50kg bag, up ₱200 in just a week, while molasses jumped past ₱9,000 from ₱7,000, driven largely by export programs approved by the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA).

Economic impact on sugar farmers and production costs

For sugar farmers, especially in Negros Occidental, this is the difference between surviving another season or shutting down. Higher prices mean farmers can finally cover fuel, fertilizer, labor, and milling costs that have piled up for months.

Without sustained reforms, though, this rebound risks becoming another short-lived spike.

For consumers and food businesses, stable sugar output reduces the risk of sudden price shocks that hit bakeries, food processors, and household budgets. Short-term gains are welcome, but the bigger question is whether the industry is being fixed or simply getting a breather.

Export-driven price gains are now eyed as an integral part of long-term sugar reforms, while ensuring farmers will not be vulnerable when prices fall in the sugar market.

Local farmers refute

Meanwhile, Filipino sugar farmers are openly disputing the ₱2,400 per 50kg sugar price cited by the SRA, saying the figure does not reflect what is actually happening on the ground.

In actual trading conditions, farmers in Mindanao said sugar still sells for around ₱2,090 per bag, while workers from a major refinery in Cagayan de Oro City claimed prices rarely even hit ₱2,200.

Similar complaints have emerged from Capiz, Davao del Sur, and even Negros Occidental, areas often cited as beneficiaries of recent price improvements.

Rising operational costs vs. reported gains

Many say those gains reported by the SRA, which are intended to be a relief for struggling farmers, are quickly swallowed by rising fuel costs, transport expenses, and milling fees.

For farmers and millers, a price increase that cannot be felt at the farm gate offers little relief. When official figures don’t match daily reality, frustration turns into distrust.

 

 

When official figures don’t match daily reality, frustration turns into distrust.

 

 

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