PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s sugar supply remains secure for the foreseeable future despite India’s recent move to ban sugar exports, say MSM Malaysia Holdings Bhd.
MSM Malaysia, the country’s leading refined sugar producer, said it has not experienced any significant issues in securing raw sugar despite India’s export ban.
Its group chief executive officer, Dr Mazatul ‘Aini Shahar Abdul Malek Shahar, said this was because most of its raw sugar is sourced from several countries other than India.
“Our strategic sourcing is from Brazil and Thailand. This, combined with the current global surplus, creates a favourable environment for a stable supply over the next six to nine months,” she added.
She said procurement activities and supply arrangements remain stable, supported by proactive procurement planning across multiple sourcing countries.
Mazatul added that India’s ban also reinforces the need for local industries to diversify away from reliance on any single country for certain materials or resources.
“India’s move highlights global food supply vulnerability.
“Thankfully, Malaysia, through MSM’s existing trade patterns and the current surplus, is well insulated and well positioned to benefit from improved pricing opportunities,” she added.
On May 13, India announced a ban on all sugar exports until the end of September to protect domestic supplies and prevent local prices from rising.
Malaysian Bakery, Biscuit, Confectionery, Mee and Kuey Teow Merchants Association president Chaang Tuck Cheong said local food manufacturers and traders have yet to feel any major effects from the export ban.
“Most of the sugar we use is imported from Thailand, Brazil and Indonesia, so we haven’t been affected,” she said, adding that the market price of sugar has remained at about RM200 per 50kg.
“Our members who use relatively large amounts of sugar said that there is no significant impact or any serious supply issues for now,”she said.
When asked whether buyers affected by India’s sugar export ban could pressure supplies from Thailand, Brazil or Indonesia, Chaang said his association members were not concerned.
“Based on past experience, sugar has never been in short supply, and our members are not sensitive to these issues at the moment.
“They only told me that if the cost of incoming goods increases, they would consider passing the cost on to consumers if necessary,” she added.
