Hanoi (VNA) - The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said Thailand’s sugar and sugarcane production is forecast to decline in the 2018-19 crop due to unfavourable weather conditions.
The country’s sugarcane production is forecast to decline 4 percent to 130 million tonnes in 2018-19, due to reduced average yields after less rain fell than expected in major growing areas.
Meanwhile, sugar output for the same period is expected to decrease 6 percent from a record 14.7 million tonnes in 2017-18 to 13.8 million tonnes, the USDA said.
During the first half of 2018, sugar consumption was at 1.3 million tonnes, 6 percent lower than the same period last year.
As the third-largest producer of sugar after Brazil and India, Thailand joined the growing list of regions imposing taxes on sweetened beverages in 2017, in an effort to reduce consumption of sugary drinks.-VNA
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