BANGKOK: The recent drought has cut sugar cane production in Thailand, the world’s second largest sugar exporter, raising concerns about falling sugar output at a time when global sugar prices are on a rising trend, according to the Thai Sugar Millers Corporation Ltd (TSMC). Chairman Sirivuth Siamphakdee said the TSMC had set a preliminary forecast for the current 2016/17 sugar cane crop at 91.1 million tonnes, down by 3 million tonnes from the previous 2015/16 crop.
“We expect to see a drop in sugar-cane production this year as the drought had hit output. However, we hope that cooperation among sugar millers and sugar cane farmers to improve productivity and milling efficiency will help increase yield. That will help make up for the fall in sugar production,” said Mr Sirivuth. The TSMC’s forecast for falling sugar-cane production is in line with that of the Office of the Cane and Sugar Board, which oversees the country’s sugar industry.