EU Will Import 152,208 Metric Tons of Sugar at Reduced Duty

The European Union will import 152,208 metric tons of sugar at a reduced duty rate under the second of five planned tenders to alleviate tight supplies, according to the European Commission, the EU's executive arm.

The 27-nation bloc backed a proposal in May to import the sweetener at a reduced rate and authorized duty-free imports of 200,000 tons of sugar to boost supplies in the region. The EU also allowed 300,000 tons of imports at zero duty earlier this year, bringing the total of duty-free imports to 500,000 tons.

Raw sugar imports under on July 29, 2011's tender will total 142,160 tons, while white, or refined, sugar will account for 10,048 tons, the commission said in an e-mailed statement.

The lowest duty to be paid will be 151.05 euros ($215.8) $a ton, on 141,960 tons of raw-sugar for refining, while the highest will be 225 euros a ton on the 10,048 tons of white sugar, it said.

The commission accepted offers to import 64,364 tons of sugar on July 14, bringing the total amount of sugar to be brought into the bloc at reduced duty to 216,572 tons.

The results of the next tender will be decided Aug. 25.