Currently 30 out of the nation’s 34 sugar plants have ceased operations for the 2005-2006 period, as was scheduled for the middle of April, according to a source from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on April 16.

However, several sugar plants may extend operations till May 10, thanks to a sugarcane output increase of 500,000 tonnes from supplementary sugarcane plantations.

The 34 sugar plants nationwide have produced 900,000 tonnes of sugar since the beginning of the 2005-2006 production year. But the country will possibly face a shortage of 300,000 tonnes of sugar in 2006, according to the calculations of the Agricultural Ministry.

Given that, the Government has decided to import 150,000 tonnes of sugar in the second quarter this year. The Vietnam Association of Sugar and Sugarcane has also proposed importing an additional 100,000 tonnes of sugar.