Indonesia has issued permits to 23 food and beverage firms to import a total of 60,000 tonnes of white sugar from October to end December amid tight domestic supply, an industry official said on Friday. "There is a possibility that more permits will be issued," said Franky Sibarani, chairman of the Indonesian Food and Beverage Producers Association, GAPMMI, adding that food and beverage firms had until October 16 to apply for imports.
Southeast Asia's biggest sugar consumer is struggling to lower domestic sugar prices, which have surged to a record above 11,000 rupiah ($1.14) in line with global prices.