The US sugar import quota should be raised by an additional 200,000 short tons for this marketing year, a food industry trade group said on Tuesday, foreseeing tight supplies in the new marketing year as well.
Imports are forecast at 3.09 million tons this marketing year, which ends September 30, roughly 1 million tons more than the preceding year. The Agriculture Department has repeatedly raised the import quota due to weather damage to the US crop.
Randy Green of the Sweetener Users Association, speaking for foodmakers, said there still was "the need for additional imports ... probably on the order of 200,000 tons" to achieve adequate supplies for this year.
An analysis by consulting firm Promar International said the United States "will need to import substantially more sugar than the minimum quota next season - about 600,000 short tons based on our current outlook." Promar also said a 200,000 ton-increase in this year's quota would be helpful.