Govt slashes quota for imported raw sugar

JAKARTA: The government decided to lower the quota of imported raw sugar for use by the domestic refined sugar industry, following a recent sugar audit showing that raw sugar was directly distributed to the public.

Deputy Trade Minister Bayu Krishnamurti said on Thursday in Jakarta that the quota had been lowered by 17.65 percent to 2.1 million tons this year according to the local industry’s needs.

“We will monitor the sugar needs of the local food and beverage industry to ensure it gets a sufficient supply,” he told reporters at his office. Bayu added the government would also take legal actions against firms involved with abuses of raw sugar imports.