Commerce Ministry Deals with Sugar Shortage

The Commerce Ministry has asked sugar manufacturers to clarify an allegation that they are hoarding and refusing distribution of their products to department stores, resulting in a shortage in the market.

Internal Trade Department Director-General Vatcharee Vimuktayon spoke of the current sugar shortage and rising prices in local markets, saying the Commerce Ministry will coordinate with the Industry Ministry to distribute 160,000 sacks of sugar from its stockpile to department stores and fresh markets, in response to the shortage.

Furthermore, Vatcharee said the Commerce Ministry sent a letter to sugar manufacturers, asking them to explain reports that they have refused to distribute their products to department stores despite the fact that there is still 1.7 million sacks of sugar remaining in old stocks.

She noted that information about 1.1 million sacks of the sugar remains unclear, and the manufacturers will be asked to clarify whether sales contracts have been made and whether the sugar is in the process of being transported.

The Internal Trade Department director added that if sale contracts have not yet been made for the sugar, the department will seek the manufactures' cooperation to distribute it to retail stores and help alleviate the sugar shortage in the market.

She noted that manufacturers found hoarding and refusing distribution may be punished with seven years in jail, or a fine of up to 140,000 baht, or both.

Vatcharee added that her department recently sent its officials to inspect the quantity of sugar owned by 15 major distributors in Bangkok and found that a few distributors have larger amounts of sugar in their stocks than they reported to the department.

They will be liable to a fine of up to 20,000 baht.

-- Tan Network 2010-11-25

More sugar will be distributed to ease shortage

BANGKOK, 25 November 2010 (NNT) – The Commerce and Industry Ministries are prepared to distribute over 100,000 sacks of rice to retailers this week, hoping to ease the problem of sugar shortage.

Director-general of the Department of Internal Trade Vatchari Vimooktayon said that the Commerce Ministry had sent a letter to the Industry Ministry asking for 80,000 tons of sugar; out of the 1.6 tons the ministry had in its stock. The sugar was to be delivered to retailers and department stores nationwide in order to help ease the shortage.

In addition, the ministry will this week order all refineries to double check their stocks, given there are supposed to be up to 1.7 million tons of sugar left in their warehouses. Sugar not already committed under sale contracts will be immediately released to the public.

-- NNT 2010-11-25

Sugar shortage? You kidding. Everything from bread to spaghetti is saturated in sugar!

Sugar shortage? You kidding. Everything from bread to spaghetti is saturated in sugar!

for sure , even in meat sausages and bread the sugar taste is overwhelming , do they not know SALT is there to make food tasty , even chips snacks taste sugar....

The Commerce and Industry Ministries are prepared to distribute over 100,000 sacks of rice to retailers this week, hoping to ease the problem of sugar shortage.

-- NNT 2010-11-25

Have I missed something here?

The Commerce and Industry Ministries are prepared to distribute over 100,000 sacks of rice to retailers this week, hoping to ease the problem of sugar shortage.

-- NNT 2010-11-25

Have I missed something here?

Rice.....sugar......what's the difference?

Just a typo by the boys and girls at the national news bureau, I assume.

Seriously though, a sugar shortage might be one of the best things that has happened to Thailand (from a physical health point of view) in a long time. These people generally have a serious sugar addiction problem.

Edited November 25, 201015 yr by Wavefloater

This isn't the full story. The food industry and government keep sugar prices artificially low. Simply put, food manufacturers want cheap ingredients to ensure high profits and these companies lobby government to ensure the prices are kept low. The impact of this policy is that farmers are kept poor. Market forces should be allowed to operate so that farmers get more money and hopefully food manufacturers use less sugar, which improves health.

Regarding selling to department stores: the big supermarkets also want low prices. Hence reluctance to sell to them.

Sugar millers assure no shortage

By The Nation

Sugar millers believe that the shortage would ease once sugar mills start the crushing season during November 27-December 13 and are confident that the allocation of 25 million bags for domestic consumption would well accommodate the demand.

Prakit Pradiprasen, coordinating chairman of the Three Sugar Associations, said that to ensure the sufficient supply, the government needs to strengthen enforcement to block smuggling and encourage export-oriented producers to use sugar in the export-oriented quota.

Prakit said in a statement that sugar millers will start opening their mills on November 27 and all will be operational within December 13.

They estimated sugar cane for the 2010/2011 crushing period would amount to 65.59 million tonnes, which could produce 69 million bags of sugar. Of total, 25 million bags or about 480,769 bags per week will be enlisted for domestic consumption (Quota A) and the rest is for export.

"Shortages emerged recently partly as it is the end of the seasonal production. As the production starts again, more supply will come to the office in December," he said.

He noted that the Quota A allocation of 25 million bags is huge compared to 21-22 million bags in the previous years. This convinces millers that the domestic supply will well accommodate the demand.

-- The Nation 2010-11-25

More sugar will be distributed to ease shortage

BANGKOK, 25 November 2010 (NNT) – The Commerce and Industry Ministries are prepared to distribute over 100,000 sacks of rice to retailers this week, hoping to ease the problem of sugar shortage.

Director-general of the Department of Internal Trade Vatchari Vimooktayon said that the Commerce Ministry had sent a letter to the Industry Ministry asking for 80,000 tons of sugar; out of the 1.6 tons the ministry had in its stock. The sugar was to be delivered to retailers and department stores nationwide in order to help ease the shortage.

In addition, the ministry will this week order all refineries to double check their stocks, given there are supposed to be up to 1.7 million tons of sugar left in their warehouses. Sugar not already committed under sale contracts will be immediately released to the public.

-- NNT 2010-11-25

Go figure - USA and other counties have all the sugar they require - but oooopps - they have inflated their currency to such overwhelming proportions - the import of foreign goods are out of the question - but of course they still want the exports to keep rollin out on a cheap and weak dollar

the Industry Ministry asking for 80,000 tons of sugar; out of the 1.6 tons the ministry had in its stock

Eighty thousand out of one point six! That's another nice one.

Would anyone in the country be hurt if the government simply said, use less sugar?

Why is sugar supply defined as some kind of national crisis. It isn't as though we could all survive with one less spoonful a day.

Thailand, the only country I have ever heard of where, a shortage of refined sugar represents a crisis.

Edited November 25, 201015 yr by Thai at Heart

The Commerce and Industry Ministries are prepared to distribute over 100,000 sacks of rice to retailers this week, hoping to ease the problem of sugar shortage.

-- NNT 2010-11-25

Have I missed something here?

lol...proof reading by diabetics??

The Commerce and Industry Ministries are prepared to distribute over 100,000 sacks of rice to retailers this week, hoping to ease the problem of sugar shortage.

-- NNT 2010-11-25

Have I missed something here?

lol...proof reading by diabetics??

Suck rice long enough and enzymes in your saliva will turn it into sugar

Why are they using "bags" as a unit of sugar? how many kg in a bag?

Why are they using "bags" as a unit of sugar? how many kg in a bag?

Maybe there is a shortage of the single teaspoon bags of sugar you use in your coffee?

I think they mean sugerdaddy (ELDERLY MAN WHO LAVISHES GIFTS ON YOUNG LADIES) well i'm still here

This isn't the full story. The food industry and government keep sugar prices artificially low. Simply put, food manufacturers want cheap ingredients to ensure high profits and these companies lobby government to ensure the prices are kept low. The impact of this policy is that farmers are kept poor. Market forces should be allowed to operate so that farmers get more money and hopefully food manufacturers use less sugar, which improves health.

Exactly right. And Thailand is one of the worlds largest sugar producers and in the top 3 sugar exporting nations, so it is 100% the fault of failed government manipulation of prices that caused this shortage. Can you imagine the outcry if the same thing happened with rice. Well I can guarantee it will if the government ever tries to make domestic rice prices lower than international prices.

Edited November 25, 201015 yr by Time Traveller

This isn't the full story. The food industry and government keep sugar prices artificially low. Simply put, food manufacturers want cheap ingredients to ensure high profits and these companies lobby government to ensure the prices are kept low. The impact of this policy is that farmers are kept poor. Market forces should be allowed to operate so that farmers get more money and hopefully food manufacturers use less sugar, which improves health.

Exactly right. And Thailand is one of the worlds largest sugar producers and in the top 3 sugar exporting nations, so it is 100% the fault of failed government manipulation of prices that caused this shortage. Can you imagine the outcry if the same thing happened with rice. Well I can guarantee it will if the government ever tries to make domestic rice prices lower than international prices.

Weird isn't it. One of the only countries in the world that subsidizes refined sugar consumption but wonders why obesity and diabetes is on the rise. Of course we won't get into the politics of who produces things like Coca Cola in Thailand, but how anyone can defend subsidizing sugar is beyond me. How about subsidizing broccoli or bananas?

Of course, one could also wonder why the government is the sole manufacturer of cigarettes in the country also.

Oh the tangled web we weave.

Resolutions from the meeting held Thursday 25 November:

1] Have Thai people use less sugar in their tea.

General Wotapong Corblimeyitnotme then informed committee that Thai people do not drink tea. It for falang.

Air Force Commander Grippendeal Lotta Doshaslosha said they did but the milk was sweet enough so not a sugar problem.

2] Have Thai people use less sugar in their noodles

Naval Admiral Justagazin na Valclogwivdust reminded the committee that Thai people are off their noodles due to increased cost.

This was supported by Under Secretary Stoneandcrawlin Wheredamoney who added hissecond wife believed that 'no money-no honey' when she locked him out last night and he had to seek accomadation at the nearest massage parlour.

3] Manufacuture small spoons then less sugar gets used.

Police Colonel Itnotme Inotseeyoupaymenow asked for clarification of what is a spoon?

Senior Comptroller General's Office Permanent Scretary Mydadget Mevisjob pointed out a spoon is something you have born in your mouth of silver when you was a baby.

The meeting accepted the resolutions and moved on to the next agenda item: A nucleur Thailand.