SUGAR: Sugar production for the fiscal year 2016/17 is increased 247,901 short tons, raw value (STRV) to 9.208 million resulting from new sugar crop forecasts made by NASS in the August Crop Production report. Beet sugar is increased 128,160 STRV based on higher sugar per acre implied by the NASS sugarbeet yield forecast although area harvested is down slightly. Cane sugar production in Florida is increased by 47,786 STRV and in Louisiana by 71,955 based on higher sugar-per-acre yields implied by NASS sugarcane yield forecasts in both States. Beginning stocks for 2016/17 are increased by 35,012 STRV due to changes made to two import estimates for 2015/16 that flowed into the ending stock estimate. Re-export imports for 2015/16 are increased by 50,000 STRV to 350,000 based on pace to date. Partially offsetting is an increase in 2015/16 raw sugar tariff-rate quota shortfall of 14,988 STRV.
The only other change for 2016/17 is a reduction in re-export imports of 50,000 STRV to 125,000. With no change expected for 2016/17 sugar exports, deliveries for re-export sugarcontaining products, or polyhydric alcohol manufacturing, the imports for re-export reduction offsets the increase made for 2015/16. Ending stocks for 2016/17 increase to 1.887 million STRV, implying a stocks-to-use of 15.4 percent. Mexico sugar production for 2015/16 is estimated at 6.117 million metric tons (MT), a small reduction from last month based on final industry reporting. Deliveries for 2015/16 to the sugarcontaining product export IMMEX program are increased by 75,283 MT to 330,000 based on increases in the pace of deliveries to the program by domestic producers. Deliveries to IMMEX in 2016/17 are expected to match the level in 2015/16, thereby resulting in an increase of 75,283 MT as well.