American Sugar Alliance Director of Economics and Policy Analysis Jack Roney gave an optimistic outlook on the sugar markets during the American Crystal Sugar Company annual meeting. The biggest challenge for the industry is typically trade with Mexico, but Roney says there is peace and certainty going forward. “Supply and demand are in balance despite the fact there was a tough harvest last year. Imports steadied the market. We’re experiencing a strong recovery from the price disaster of Mexican dumping onto our market in 2013 and 2014. We have a positive price outlook for the coming years,” says Roney. “A key determinant of pricing is a stocks-to-use ratio. The lower the ratio, the stronger the prices are. We’ve seen real progress in that regard.” The year’s stocks-to-use ratio is 13 percent, Roney says that’s a positive going forward.
