Philippines faces sugarcane shortage, ethanol mandate in jeopardy?

In the Philippines, where a sugar shortage is looming, concerns are rising over the availability of cane and its competition with ethanol. The government has introduced ethanol blending policies and is pushing for ethanol production, but sugarcane area has fallen by 10,000 hectares rather than increased by 200,000 hectares because a cane development program wasn’t put in place. The country is currently importing sugar to cover its supply needs and current export commitments while ethanol distillers are beginning to compete with sugar millers for cane.

More on the story.