USDA projects sugar crops for Australia, Dominican Republic and El Salvador

April 15 (Reuters) - Following are selected highlights from reports issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) posts in Canberra, Santo Domingo and San Salvador:

AUSTRALIA

"Australia's sugar production is forecast to decline to 3.8 million metric tons in marketing year 2025/26, down from an estimated 3.85 million tons (in) 2024/25, marking the lowest level of production in over a decade. Sugarcane production for 2025/26 is projected at 28.5 million tons, a 1% decrease from the previous year."

"The production decline is due to several factors, including wet harvest conditions during 2024/25 that delayed harvest completion, reducing the growth period for the 2025/26 crop."

"Raw sugar exports are forecast to rise to 3.1 million tons 2025/26, up from an estimated 2.7 million tons in the prior year. Domestic sugar consumption, currently at 20 percent of production, is forecast to increase due to strong population growth in Australia."

To see the full report, click: https://bit.ly/4lwjl9T

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

"Sugar production in the Dominican Republic is forecast to reach 600,000 metric tons due to favorable rainfall conditions through the first half of marketing year 2025/2026 (Oct-Sept). Production for 2024/2025 is estimated at 590,000 tons, a 19% increase compared to the previous marketing year."

"The recent decision from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to lift restrictions imposed in 2022 on sugar and sugar-based imports on the leading Dominican producer, Central Romana, further supports the forecast. Additionally, the country plans to meet the U.S. sugar quota for fiscal year 2025."

To see the full report, click: https://bit.ly/4jvKsjB

EL SALVADOR

"Sugar production in El Salvador is forecast to reach 740,000 metric tons in marketing year 2025/26, with 2024/25 estimates revised down to 706,000 tons. This growth is largely driven by ongoing investments in irrigation infrastructure, the modernization of refining equipment, and the adoption of improved sugarcane seed varieties."

"Sugar exports are projected to rise by 19% in 2025/26, with a 24% increase in raw sugar exports, driven by heightened demand from China. Favorable international prices have also helped mitigate some of the financial pressure from high input costs in sugar production. In response to persistent inflation concerns, the Government of El Salvador has extended the zero-percent import duty on sugar until March 2025."

To see the full report, click: https://bit.ly/42HzHFn