Chinese sugar refiners to lobby Beijing to increase import permits
Chinese sugar refineries are planning to lobby Beijing to increase out-of-quota sugar imports next year, after the government took several steps to curb shipments this year.
It is reported by Reuters.
Major sugar refiners in the world's top buyer of the commodity proposed that the government should resume import permits for sugar at 1,9 million tonnes for 2018, to ease tight supplies for the raw material.
«We hope to import more. Business will be easier if we can get more quotas. Many refineries can't operate at a normal rate due to shortages of raw materials», — said a sugar refinery manager.
The proposal for more import permits was going to be sent to Beijing for review and final approval.
The appeal comes after China almost halved its out-of-quota sugar import permits this year to only 1 million tonnes. Beijing also imposed extra tariffs on out-of quota imports for the next three years.
China allows 1,94 million tonnes of sugar imports a year at a tariff of 15% as part of its commitments to the World Trade Organization. Shipments brought in outside of that quota — out-of-quota imports — are charged at a higher tariff and are subject to permitting.