RI to import more sugar

RI to import more sugar

LONDON (Reuter): Indonesia is expected to import over one
million tons of sugar in 1997/98, including more than 300,000
tons of raws, Czarnikow Sugar said in its latest monthly report
yesterday.

Imports would be little changed from last season.
Indonesia's logistics agency, BULOG, which has a monopoly of
white sugar imports, recently denied that the sharp fall in the
rupiah against the US dollar would lead to a reduction in
commodity imports.

Indonesia has been seeking mostly Thai whites, pushing up the
value of Thai 100 ICUMSA sugar for Feb/March shipment, which may
rise out of line with the rest of the world market unless it
takes more Brazilian sugars.