Thailand Targets Reduced Sugarcane Burning for 2026/27 Season
The Office of the Cane and Sugar Board is implementing stricter regulations to reduce sugarcane burning, aiming to balance environmental sustainability with global market competitiveness.
According to Khaosod Online, the Office of the Cane and Sugar Board (OCSB) is advancing efforts to minimize sugarcane burning to combat PM 2.5 pollution and meet international sustainability standards. For the 2026/2027 production season, the OCSB plans to propose reducing the daily intake of burnt sugarcane at factories from 20% to 15%, with an overall seasonal target of keeping burnt cane below 5%. Additionally, a seven-day suspension on harvesting and transport is scheduled from December 27, 2026, to January 2, 2027.
These measures are critical for Thailand, which exports approximately 80% of its sugar production, a sector contributing over 200 billion baht to the national economy. While the 2025/2026 season saw 105.86 million tons of cane processed with burnt cane reduced to 3.8%, the upcoming season is projected to see a lower volume of 97.02 million tons.
For residents and travelers, these policies are intended to improve air quality during the harvest season, though the success of these initiatives depends on balancing environmental goals with the operational costs faced by farmers. It remains to be confirmed how these stricter quotas will impact local sugar prices and whether the proposed operational suspensions will be fully adopted by all industry stakeholders.
