Philippines Receives Major US Sugar Import Boost

The United States has significantly increased the raw sugar import quota for the Philippines, allowing an additional 25,300 metric tons (MT) to enter its market in the fiscal year 2024. This announcement from the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) marks a substantial increment, raising the total to 25,300 MTRV (metric tons raw value) on top of the initial allocation of 145,235 MTRV for the same period.

This increase is part of a larger allocation where the USTR has added 125,000 MTRV to the overall quota under the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement for fiscal year 2024, which spans from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024. The United States employs an MTRV allocation system that facilitates exports from other countries at relatively low tariffs.

This allocation boost to the Philippines signifies a substantial opportunity for the nation’s sugar industry, enhancing its export capacity to the U.S. market. The last significant shipment of raw sugar from the Philippines to the United States occurred during the crop year 2020-2021, with 112,008 MT sent. The increased quota for 2024 underscores a renewed and strengthened trade relationship between the two nations, promising economic benefits for the Philippine sugar sector.