China Sugar Mill Awaits Verdict On Imports

A south China sugar mill in Jiangmen has run into difficulties with the authorities over the documentation for a 14,000-tonne shipment of raw sugar from Thailand, Asian traders said on Wednesday. They said the consignment lacked the requisite import licences. An official at the mill, asked by Reuters if this was the case, declined to comment on details. This matter is still being explored and there will be a decision, he said without elaboration. The official did not say when a decision on the cargo would be reached.

Traders said last week that a 14,000-tonne cargo of Thai sugar was discharging at the southern Chinese port of Taishan, but whether the buyer had a valid import licence was questionable.

The problems faced by Jiangmens sugar mill made the fate of two other cargoes headed for China very uncertain, they added. Traders said that the Marina Lauri, which left Thailand on March 7 carrying 10,000 tonnes of raw sugar in bags, had arrived at Chinas marine borders near Xingang port at the northern city of Tianjin.

The ship is not berthed, and will be inspected, said a sugar trader.