Philippines Sugar Producers welcome SRA order tightening rules on bioethanol feedstock imports 

PHILIPPINES – The United Sugar Producers’ Federation of the Philippines (Unifed) has welcomed the Sugar Regulatory Administration’s (SRA) latest order requiring National Biofuels Board (NBB) approval for imports of sugar-derived feedstocks intended for bioethanol production, saying the measure strengthens protection for the domestic sugar industry. 

According to Malaya Business Insight, Unifed President Manuel Lamata said the clarification closes a regulatory gap that could have allowed imported raw materials to compete with locally produced sugarcane, molasses and other sugar-based feedstocks. 

Lamata said the revised regulation is important for protecting local producers from imported alternatives that could displace domestic agricultural products. 

According to him, the previous provision posed a significant risk to the local sugar industry and could have adversely affected producers if it had remained unchanged. 

Last week, the SRA issued Sugar Order No. 4 for Crop Year 2025–2026, clarifying that imports of sugar-derived feedstocks for bioethanol production will only be permitted with authorisation from the National Biofuels Board. 

The order covers imported sugar-related products, including molasses, sugar, sugarcane, sugar syrup and other sugar- and sugarcane-derived materials. 

The SRA explained that the clarification became necessary after an earlier regulation issued during Crop Year 2008–2009 had been interpreted as allowing the agency to approve such imports without NBB authorisation. 

Lamata also questioned why previous amendments to Sugar Order No. 14 for Crop Year 2008–2009 did not address Section 6, which permitted imports of sugarcane- and sugar-derived feedstocks for ethanol production. 

He said the provision had raised concerns even when the Philippine bioethanol industry was still developing and domestic production was sufficient to meet demand for molasses and related feedstocks. 

The clarification comes as the Philippine government reviews a proposal to amend Joint Administrative Order No. 2008-1 to include corn as an additional approved feedstock for bioethanol production alongside sugarcane and molasses. 

The Department of Agriculture said the proposal remains under review and will require approval from the National Biofuels Board. Supporters argue that corn-based ethanol could provide farmers with an additional source of income during periods of lower agricultural returns. 

Meanwhile, the Department of Energy said increasing the country’s bioethanol blending requirement to Ethanol 20 could reduce fuel prices by up to P5 per litre while strengthening energy security through greater use of locally produced ethanol and reduced reliance on imported fossil fuels. 

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