Caribbean sugar producers have projected a production of 560,000 tonnes of sugar for crop 2007-2008 after noting that adverse weather conditions have negatively affected sugar production.
According to a press release issued after the 149th meeting of the Board of Directors of the Sugar Association of the Caribbean (SAC), this level of production would allow the region to fulfil its supply obligations to the European Union.
Meanwhile, the directors recorded their full support of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which provides an opportunity to the regional sugar industry for increased access to the European market with the minimum base being the sugar protocol quota of over 400,000 tonnes raw sugar, the release said. The EPA holds many provisions which are regarded as the starting point for the repositioning of the regional sugar industry. These provisions can be activated by the region’s sugar industry for business development internally or jointly with EU partners.
