The total inventory of sugar stored in factories throughout Vietnamamounted to 280,000 tonnes on September 15 this year, 58,690 tonnes morethan last year, according to statistics released by the Ministry ofAgriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

Domesticsugar producers’ monthly sales reached 50,000–60,000 tonnes, much lowerthan the average of 140,000 tonnes sold in 2013, MARD’s Department ofProcessing and Trade for Agriculture-Forestry-Fisheries and SaltProduction reported.

Although domestic salesincreased to 92,000 tonnes during a month from mid August, the figurestill falls short of the same period last year’s figures by 10,000tonnes, the department said.

Chairman of the VietnamSugar and Sugarcane Association (VSSA) Nguyen Thanh Long attributed thesituation to sugar smuggling, which is posing a challenge for domesticfirms.

Meanwhile, Bui Thi Quy, Director General ofthe Con Long My Phat Company, said the Government has allowed somedomestic factories to import as much as 70,000 tonnes of sugar,contributing to harming the domestic enterprises.

Long explained that the decline in sales is partly a result of Vietnam’s commitments to the World Trade Organisation. The VSSA leaderproposed the country seek suitable measures to ensure equality.

Regarding the control of illegally imported sugar, Long asserted thatit is was necessary to address the shortcomings of the licence grantingprocedure for sugar producers and traders by strictly verifying theircapacities.

In reality, many enterprises were abusing their licence and selling sugar illegally, he added.

On top of this, improving sugar producers’ access to capital and bankloans was crucial for their development and future existence, heconcluded.-VNA