Mexico promotes measures to save the sugar sector from the crisis

Mexico is facing one of the worst crises in the sugar sector in the last 20 years. The Ministry of Economy (SE) has announced that it is working on comprehensive proposals to strengthen this agroindustry, with special emphasis on combating technical smuggling of sweeteners, which threatens the competitiveness of national production.

The federal government has held meetings with producers, distributors, and business chambers, including the National Chamber of the Sugar and Alcohol Industries, to identify the sector's main challenges. According to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, these working groups have led to the development of proposals that seek to:

• Strengthen national sugar production.
• Combating technical smuggling of sweeteners.
• Promote the competitiveness of the agroindustry in domestic and foreign markets.

Sweetener smuggling, known as technical smuggling, involves the introduction of "food preparations" containing up to 95% sugar and 5% other ingredients such as activated charcoal, maltodextrin, or flour. These mixtures pay a lower tariff than that established for pure sugar, directly affecting Mexican producers.

Mexico's National Customs Agency (ANAM) has acknowledged this situation and asserts that it is working to stop the irregular entry of these products, which impacts the profitability and sustainability of the national agribusiness.

Producers have reported that the domestic market has been saturated with imported sugar since last year. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (SEF) clarified that there are no import quotas in effect and that all sugar entering the country complies with established tariff legislation, avoiding practices that could harm local production.

The Ministry of Economy reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining an open and constructive dialogue with the productive sectors, prioritizing the sustainable development and competitiveness of the national economy. These actions seek to ensure that the Mexican sugar industry can recover from the crisis and remain a strategic pillar of the agroindustry.

Strengthening the sugar sector will depend on the effective implementation of comprehensive measures, customs oversight to curb smuggling, and the active collaboration of producers and authorities. The combination of clear regulations, fair tariffs, and support for domestic production will be key for Mexico to confront this historic crisis and ensure the stability of one of its most important sectors.