Sugar millers criticize duty hike on molasses

Pakistan’s Ministry of Industries and Production faced strong criticism for attempting to increase the recently imposed 15% regulatory duty on molasses. The Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) questioned the ministry’s decision, which the PSMA said was excessive. According to the PSMA, since the government had not yet launched an ethanol blending project, there was no justification for imposing regulatory duties on molasses. The money earned from the export of molasses was much higher than the earnings of ethanol manufacturers through so-called value addition, media reports said. (April 24, 2009)