This is the second consecutive sugar crop with a sharp fall in production.

Sugar supply woes pushed domestic prices higher, the VSSA said, adding that each kilogram of domestic sugar fetches between VND16,500 (US$0.74)-VND17,100 (US$0.77) in 2016 while it was priced at VND12,750 (US$0.57)-VND13,400 (US$0.6) last year.

To ensure sufficient sugar for domestic consumption, the Ministry of Industry and Trade asked the Government’s permission to import 200,000 tonnes of sugar.According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the country has 305,000 hectares of sugarcane crops with an average yield of 65.3 tonnes per hectare.