Sugar Rationing In Thailand, Max 2kg/person

[webfact]

Increased checks as sugar shortage starts to bite

CHIANG RAI: -- Thai customs officials in Chiang Rai Province have stepped-up their inspection of people and vehicles crossing into Burma as a nationwide sugar shortage in Thailand starts to take affect.

Road and foot traffic is now subject to increased searches to prevent cross-border smuggling, with the price of sugar in Burma border markets now at Bt30/kg (about $US0.91/kg) compared to Bt25-29/kg ($0.76-0.88) on the Thai side.

According to customs officials at Mai Sai people crossing into Tachileik are permitted to take only 2kg (4.4lb) of sugar out of Thailand and those found with more will have it confiscated prior to leaving Thailand.

The border crackdown follows an announcement by the Thailand Ministry of Commerce (MoC) limiting sales of sugar to 2kg per person and a stern warning that anyone caught stockpiling sugar without ministry approval will be subject to prosecution, with penalties of up to a Bt140,000 ($US4,286) fine and imprisonment for up to seven years.

Late last month Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai ordered the office of the permanent secretary to the Commerce Ministry to monitor the domestic sugar market following reports of severe shortages of sugar at retail stores in Bangkok and surrounding provinces.

The limit of 2kg per purchase was introduced after supplies of white sugar at supermarkets in Nonthaburi Province, Don Muang, Rangsit, and Pathum Thani dried up, with well-known brands such as Mitr Phol and Wang Kanai being completely sold out.

While the 2kg limit per purchaser has been quietly introduced by the ministry and is being enforced in many markets, one sweets vendor interviewed on ASTV today said, “sometimes I wonder why we need this big ministerial announcement when all that is needed to circumvent them is getting in the queue twice, instead of once”.

On Friday Chutima Bunyapraphasara, director general of the Internal Trade Department, said she has submitted a letter to the commerce minister requesting an urgent meeting of the price and services committee to implement stringent measures against people speculating on sugar prices.

-- thaivisa.com 2010-03-07

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[nonthaburial]

That answers the reason why every man and his dog were buying sugar in carrefoure on Friday

[tooninthai]

I was in the supermarket on Friday and they were low on sugar but no mention or rationing. I bought my usual 4kg. If I wanted more, I could easily pop into several 7-11's and stock up.

"with the price of sugar in Burma border markets now at Bt30/kg (about $US0.91/kg) compared to Bt25-29/kg ($0.76-0.88) on the Thai side."

If there is only 1 Baht a kilo difference, why the need to smuggle sugar into Burma??? This makes little sense to me unless the figures quoted are incorrect.

[moskito]

i hate I didnt invest in sugar. 10years ago it was just 12-13 a kg

guess the big companys just hold it back in their storehouses atm

[gotlost]

Gee and to thank that I just gave up eating sugar for medical reasons, lucky me.

[givenall]

i hate I didnt invest in sugar. 10years ago it was just 12-13 a kg

guess the big companys just hold it back in their storehouses atm

How stupid can you be? This is a good thing. Sugar is bad for you anyway

[animatic]

In the country with the highest per capita consumption of sugar world wide

this is gonna cause serious withdrawals. And no small amount of panicking too.

Last estimate I saw said average consumption 6.5 kilos per year per person....

Astronomic compared even to #2 land of sugar addicts USA at 4-4.5

And this also means more alcohol will be sold, because this is the shortest

route to keeping your sugar levels high and so sanuk mak mak.

An Carabao and the other sugar drink makers will do well while their stocks last.

Visit any 7/11 and look for the sugar content in thailand of EVERYTHING

and then think to back home levels.... gastronomically astronomic.

[RKASA]

Been done before, even train passengers were searched for sugar back in the 70"s.

I never use the stuff it's poison in my person. I have to spend thousands of baht a month to remove that which comes natural and doing that wrong can cause even worse problems, not fun.

Anybody wants my share? it's free.

[dukkha]

When visiting a village in Roi Et some years ago I was disturbed by the fact that three people in the family of my partner were dying from diabetes.....I am no medical researcher but have read astounding statistics of the numbers of Thais with Diabetes Type 2 and Cardio Vascular Disease........Sugar=White Death...I myself at 60 developed Type 2 diabetes after 5 years in Thailand...thankfully now controlled by diet and exercise without any medication, and sadly, I no longer live in Thailand but that is a whole other saga, but health related also.....you just have to see how the Thais use sugar in almost every aspect of cooking....not saying the West does not have a problem either, take a look at obesity..... Dukkha

[Mario2008]

Just reduce the suger with 10% in all those soft drinks, orange juices etc and no need to ration. Good for the health too.

[londonthai]

In the country with the highest per capita consumption of sugar world wide

this is gonna cause serious withdrawals. And no small amount of panicking too.

just days before major anti-governmental protests, rationing sugar would anger the population and push them on the street.

a very cunning chap this mr t is - buy off of the sugar reserves from thailand and sell it with a 1 baht profit to cambodia

[Africanteacher]

"with the price of sugar in Burma border markets now at Bt30/kg (about $US0.91/kg) compared to Bt25-29/kg ($0.76-0.88) on the Thai side."

If there is only 1 Baht a kilo difference, why the need to smuggle sugar into Burma??? This makes little sense to me unless the figures quoted are incorrect.

I suppose the smugglers are carrying out their vice is tonnes.

[Credo]

Rationing sugar? Well, that should topple the government!

[BlueSmurf]

Just when my monthly sugar treat was due!! lucky I've still got some homemade Apple crumble in the freezer!lol UMM with ice cream or custard? Brits. will understand..........

[Brewsta]

That answers the reason why every man and his dog were buying sugar in carrefoure on Friday

Lotus' also bereft in ChiangMai (

Mai Wan,

Brewsta

[MZurf]

No more risk of ordering food in the restaurants only to be served something that tastes like it belongs in the dessert section of the menu?

HORAAAAAY!!!

[Guderian]

No problems, as long as the brewing industry doesn't run short of sugar... now that WOULD cause a revolution!

[Changian]

Psssssst. . . . . wanna buy some of the white stuff? You name it I can get it - Icing, Castor, Granulated. Demerara? Oooh, that's going to cost you, my son. How about something for the kids - Dextrose, Fructose, Glucose?

[MekhongKurt]

i hate I didnt invest in sugar. 10years ago it was just 12-13 a kg

guess the big companys just hold it back in their storehouses atm

How stupid can you be? This is a good thing. Sugar is bad for you anyway

Heck, he was sorry not to have INVESTED insugar; nary a word about EATING it!!!

[animatic]

In the country with the highest per capita consumption of sugar world wide

this is gonna cause serious withdrawals. And no small amount of panicking too.

just days before major anti-governmental protests, rationing sugar would anger the population and push them on the street.

a very cunning chap this mr t is - buy off of the sugar reserves from thailand and sell it with a 1 baht profit to cambodia

Not beyond the pale to consider...

[RKASA]

In the country with the highest per capita consumption of sugar world wide

this is gonna cause serious withdrawals. And no small amount of panicking too.

just days before major anti-governmental protests, rationing sugar would anger the population and push them on the street.

a very cunning chap this mr t is - buy off of the sugar reserves from thailand and sell it with a 1 baht profit to cambodia

No this does happen from time to time and its not just Thailand. Like I said here in the 70's they had a bigger problem then now. Its about price controls in some countries and then production falls off then shortages then to much and the need for price support. big cycle. Agro life support = sick patent that never really dies, but life sucks in the iron lung. Oh but middle men will make a fortune ether way.

[davyboy]

Just reduce the suger with 10% in all those soft drinks, orange juices etc and no need to ration. Good for the health too.

Totally agree, not only cut down the sugar in soft drinks, but sweets, cakes, bread and even savoury foods!!!

[davyboy]

Maybe if they cut out the sugar in bread, then maybe we can have some decent bread????

Here's hoping!!

[SaengSom]

I really dont care for a sugar shortage as i dont like to get my soup with sugar.

However, i am so happy to see that this finally brings back a CRACKDOWN again.

I missed that so much.

Normally, over the last years almost every single day, or at least every week there was a CRACKDOWN.

I already thought that this will never come back again. Maybe, so i thought, there was CRACKDOWN on CRACKDOWNS

[IanForbes]

Wut about us boyz who likes dah Brown sugah?

[moskito]

i hate I didnt invest in sugar. 10years ago it was just 12-13 a kg

guess the big companys just hold it back in their storehouses atm

How stupid can you be? This is a good thing. Sugar is bad for you anyway

THX givenall but I neeeeeed my sweeeets

Just reduce the suger with 10% in all those soft drinks, orange juices etc and no need to ration. Good for the health too.

I changed to CHANG...not much sugar in there

[powderpuff]

This is what happens when you have the government setting the prices of stuff.

Central planning. Stalin would be so proud.

[srisatch]

I am in th UK...not much time to follow this............What's the explanation?? Was there a sugar cane hopper??I thought Thailand was the 3rd biggest sugar producer in the world?? Suppose its all eaten it poured on to noodles\? I have said before...rice disease, sugar disease, hyper-accelerating Toyotas, smog, ....only needs a plague of killer jelly fish off Phuket, Samui and Pattaya...and Thaksin bin Laden.Game is up..............UK quite nice today...warm, cloudless skies, daffodils, .............miss the frangipani though.

[basjke]

If any one is short of sugar send me a PM,he can have my 2 kg.

[WatersEdge]

Let's look at the Sugar Industry a second folks.

The Sugar harvest season is almost over,

there is never more sugar in a producing country

than immediately after harvest.

For a Sugar company trying to dump their stock quickly,

wouldn't it make perfect sense to limit sales to only 2 kg?

If there was a genuine shortage, wouldn't the limit be 1 kg?

because that's the standard size bag sugar is sold by.

2 kg is more or less telegraphing their true goal to those able to think a bit.

That way all the alarmist saps with short memories run out and scam the plan,

buying up 10, 20, 40 kg, many trips to Tesco, 7-11, Carrefour, buying their allowed 2 kg at a time,

just to have enough to get through the crisis.

They are so clever...beat the system good.

The sugar producer empties their warehouse,

collects the cash at a premium price,

and smiles on the way to the bank.

Nobody got hurt...sugar keeps in the cupboard for a year nicely.

Just good marketing strategy.

Throw in a story about Burma buying up our sugar to make it seem international.

There needs to be some plausible reason that sugar is in short supply in Thailand, right?

Really now...don't you think Burma has their own sugar?

And if they didn't have their own sugar, does Burma have money to buy Thai sugar?

See you again next year!

Doesn't anyone remember that this happens every year?

This is my sixth sugar crisis since moving to Thailand.

Every single year, look for it again next year.