Coca-Cola's Philippine Bottler Urged to Prioritize Local Sugar Amid Import Reports

Sugar producers and workers in the Philippines have called on Coca-Cola's Philippine bottler to prioritize locally produced sugar after reports emerged that the company has been importing finished products from Indonesia. According to records reviewed by The Philippine Star, 5.35 million liters of Coca-Cola Original Taste entered the country in November and December last year, while another 11.63 million liters were imported between June and August this year.

Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines (CCEAP) confirmed the importation, stating that it was intended to maintain reliable product availability while expanding manufacturing capacity in the Philippines. However, the sugar and labor groups argue that greater reliance on imported finished beverages could affect the livelihoods of sugar farmers, producers, and workers by removing locally produced sugar from the manufacturing process.

The Sugar Council, National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines, and Democratic Association of Labor Organizations have issued a joint statement urging Coca-Cola to prioritize local sugar. They claim that allowing finished beverages containing imported sugar to enter the country could eventually displace products manufactured domestically using Philippine sugar and labor.