Thailand officials have refused to supply sugar to Pakistan on government-to-government basis, and have asked to approach private firms. Sources told Business Recorder on Saturday that the federal government had asked TCP to negotiate with leading exporters of sugar like Thailand, China and Brazil for import of sugar on government-to-government basis.
Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) approached Thailand through Pakistan's Embassy in Bangkok for import of 1.2 million tons white sugar on government-to-government basis.
The commercial section of the Embassy talked with the Ministry of Commerce, Thailand, Public Warehouse Organisation (PWO) and the Office of Cane and Sugar Board (OCSB), Thailand, looking for possibility of buying sugar from Thailand to Pakistan under government-to-government basis, sources said.
However, DET and the OCSB of Thailand informed the commercial section of Pakistan that Thailand trades in "rice" on government-to-government basis and not in "sugar". Therefore, it is not possible for it to supply sugar on Government-to-Government basis. Besides that they have asked the Pakistani authorities to contact with private companies of Thailand which have a quota from the government to sell for exports.
Sources said that Pakistan Embassy also contacted Thailand's two of the largest companies ie. Mitrphol Sugar Group and Khon Kaen Sugar Industry Public Company Limited. However, these companies also regretted that Pakistan was quite late for the current sugar season, as export quotas for these two firms for the current season/this year have already been sold out due to a high demand in the world market.
Sources said that Thailand's private firms agreed to book sugar import order of Pakistan but they made it clear that an order placed now is likely to have a shipment next year.