Indonesia may extend a permit to import white sugar by two weeks to the end of April as some cargoes were likely to be delayed because of bad weather, a trade ministry official said on Friday. The trade ministry has awarded permits to six state firms to import a total of 450,000 tonnes white sugar for household consumption.
The sweetener was meant to be delivered by mid-April, but so far firms have bought less than 100,000 tonnes. "Some importers have asked for (an) extension for the permit," said Deddy Sales, director general of foreign trade at the trade ministry. "They have already have the cargoes but cannot ship them because they cannot get vessels and because of bad weather."
The ministry will issued a decree to extend the permit, Saleh said.
White sugar production in Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest sugar consumer, will climb by 16 percent this year on drier weather, with planting rising by 3.5 percent, the Indonesian Sugar Association said on Monday. The ministry also said about 1.8 million tonnes of rice out of total imports of 2 million tonnes have been delivered, while the remaining 200,000 tonnes will arrive soon. The imports have helped eased food price inflation.
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