JAKARTA - INDONESIA plans to issue permits to import raw sugar next week in a bid to meet demand from food and beverage firms, Trade Minister Mari Pangestu said on Sunday.

The government has said Indonesia may consume 1.85 million tonnes of refined sugar in 2009, up nearly 6 per cent from this year's estimate of 1.75 million.

'Sugar import allocation will be announced next week,' Mr Pangestu told reporters. She declined to give quota details.

Indonesia imported about 1.375 million tonnes of raw sugar in 2008, to produce 1.25 million tonnes of refined sugar. It also imported 500,000 tonnes of refined sugar this year.

Bigger food and beverage companies, as well as the pharmaceutical industry, use white sugar that is either imported in refined form, or bought from local sugar refiners, which import the sweetener in its raw state and then refine it.

The Indonesian Sugar Council has forecast that domestic sugar supply, including production from local cane plantations and imports of other types of sugar, will reach 6.2 million tonnes this year, exceeding consumption of 4.9 million tonnes.

Indonesia has no plans to import white sugar for household use and will curb imports of high-quality white sugar for industrial users next year to hold down rising stocks. -- REUTERS