The government recently announced that it is giving RD$100 million to the run-down National Sugar Council to start up the operations at the state-owned sugar mills. The money will be used to cancel out debts contracted with the private sector, especially those owed to the sugar cane growers. The sugar-making season had been under threat because the growers were refusing to deliver the current crop to the Council.
The government expects to produce some 275 thousand tons of sugar during this season to meet an increase in its export quota to the U.S. About 180 thousand tons have already been sold on the futures market. Many doubt that this production target will be met.