"We have already imported quite a volume to replenish reserves, far more than needed to cover the deficit in producing areas, and also enough to ensure the supply for the current year," said Liu Xiaonan from the National Development and Reform Commission, the government's top economic planning body.

Liu said the window for imports was now open because import prices were now lower than local prices.

Wang Ge, a divisional head from the Agriculture Ministry's crop department, gave the output estimate and said the government wanted to maintain self-sufficiency in sugar at about 85 percent, with imports at the current rate of about 2 million tonnes.

But Liu Hande, head of the Guangdong Sugar Association, forecast a 3 million tonne deficit in the current year, with output of 10.4-10.5 million tonnes and consumption of more than 13.5 million tonnes.