(The Economic Times) The government plans to allow foodgrains during surplus production years to be used for production of ethanol that can be blended with petrol, in a bid to widen the availability of raw materials needed for making biofuel, according
molasses
Back TO HOMEThe Royal Seeds of a Biofuel Revolution
by Yuthana Praiwan (Bangkok Post) The late King laid the groundwork for Thailand's path toward energy independence. -- ... Although biofuel took longer to develop because it required more deliberate scientific research and experimentation compared with other agriculture projects, it has now become
October 28, 2017 Read Full Article
A Sticky Matter: Sugar Molasses Dent EU’s Ambitions on Advanced Biofuels
by Paola Tamma (EurActiv) Sugar molasses, which the European Commission sees as “advanced” biofuel, present many of the same problems as conventional biofuels – including a potential increase in food prices and land competition for food production. But their definition as biofuels
October 04, 2017 Read Full Article
A Blustery Day in the Bioeconomy’s Billion Acre Wood: The Latest from EPA, POET, Fuels America, Calyxt, Eligo Bioscience, Queensland, Gevo, Virgin, and Unilever
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Headwinds -- US road transport biofuels producers are up in arms this week. There are reports of oil industry led-efforts within the EPA to create an export-subsidy RIN, cut biofuel targets with new “data,” and bypass EPA staff recommendations for higher cellulosic targets. ... Now,
October 04, 2017 Read Full Article
Japan Considers Allowing US Ethanol to Meet Biofuel Mandate
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Japan recently filed a report with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s Global Agricultural Information Network, noting the government plans to maintain its 500 million liter (132.09 million gallon) crude oil equivalent mandate for biofuels
August 31, 2017 Read Full Article
Zera Says Door Open for Ethanol Licences
by Tatira Zwinoira (News Day) Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) has said players who have the capacity to do mandatory blending should apply for licences, as the regulations were open for more players. -- ... Currently, only Green Fuels Private Limited and
August 30, 2017 Read Full Article
Ethiopia: New Ethanol Production Plant to Be Constructed
(2Mercado.com/Fana Broadcasting Corporation) Ethiopia has joined hands with Eugen Schmitt Company, a German company, to construct ethanol plant in Wonjo Shoa Sugar Factory. The plant is said to be constructed at an outlay of 51 million USD. The German company will
August 30, 2017 Read Full Article
Molasses Would Be the Preferred Raw Material for Ethanol Production in Guyana
by Audreyanna Thomas (Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc./Stabroek News) The Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) would like to provide some information which it is hoped would add to the current debate on ethanol production as a viable business activity for the corporation. ... It
August 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Heard on the Floor at the Bio World Congress: The Top Storylines from Day 2
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... (T)te dialogue around advanced fuels has become about the actions of doers, rather than the aspirations of inventors. 3 Hot Newstories from the World Congress Floor 1. Praj-Gevo Going commercial with sugarcane, molasses isobutanol. ... 2. Queensland
July 26, 2017 Read Full Article
Gevo and Praj Link up to Push ahead with Isobutanol Technology
(Biofuels International) India-based bioethanol company Praj Industries will be working with US-based advanced biofuels company Gevo to use Gevo’s proprietary isobutanol technology to process sugarcane juice and molasses. This follows on the back of Praj's development work, adapting Gevo's technology to
July 25, 2017 Read Full Article
Indigenous Tech for Biofuels May Emerge Soon, Says Dharmendra Pradhan
(Economic Times) The government is hopeful that a new model regarding the use of biofuels and developed through indigenous technology would emerge in the coming days, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said today. During the Question Hour in Rajya Sabha, the Petroleum
July 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Service Providers Partner to Build Ethanol Plants in India
by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) L&T Hydrocarbon Engineering in Mumbai is partnering with the Institute of Chemical Technology Mumbai to build second-generation ethanol plants across India. ICT will provide its multi-feedstock technology and LTHE will provide engineering and construction services.
June 28, 2017 Read Full Article
N-butanol and Beyond: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Green Biologics
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Green Biologics is focused on the production of renewable n-butanol and other C4 chemicals from various renewable feedstocks, including sugar (cane, molasses, beets), starch (corn) and cellulosic biomass (corn residues, sugar cane bagasse, forest materials
June 28, 2017 Read Full Article
California LCFS Guides Advanced Biofuels Industry
by Heather Zhang (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Carbon credit prices recover and multiple new pathways are certified as the state’s program gets back on track. -- California’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions from the transport sector are racing to make progress
June 27, 2017 Read Full Article
Larsen Arm LTHE Inks Pact with ICT to Build Ethanol Plants
(Business Standard/Press Trust of India) L&T Hydrocarbon Engineering has signed an agreement with Institute of Chemical Technology to build ethanol plants based on indigenous technology. "Today, India is producing about 3 per cent bioethanol blending with ethanol derived from molasses, which
May 26, 2017 Read Full Article
Cooperative Sugar Mill Shahabad in Haryana Moving Forward with $12.7 Million Ethanol Plant
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In India, following the implementation of a 24MW cogeneration plant, the Cooperative Sugar Mill Shahabad in Haryana is looking to invest $12.7 million in a new 60,000 liter per day molasses-based ethanol plant that could
May 11, 2017 Read Full Article
Australia’s Productivity Commission Says Biofuels a Bad Deal All Around
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Australia, the federal government’s economic advisor—The Productivity Commission—has called on New South Wales, Queensland and commonwealth governments to drop biofuel blending, saying the polices unnecessarily increase fuel prices for consumers. It also dismissed out
March 29, 2017 Read Full Article
Global Bioenergies Finalizes Acquisition of Syngip Access to Third-Generation Resources
(Global Bioenergies) Process expected to be profitable starting at $45 per barrel – Further improved environmental benefit; Dilution of 1.1% for existing shareholders, possibly reaching 3.1% -- Global Bioenergies (Alternext Paris: ALGBE) has finalized the acquisition of Syngip B.V. at the close of
February 03, 2017 Read Full Article
Uganda: Museveni Wants Law on Sugarcane By-Products
by Ismail Musa Ladu (The Monitor/All Africa) President Museveni has directed the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Ms Amelia Kyambadde to bring to Parliament, within six months, a law that will allow for the blending of fuel with Ethanol
January 25, 2017 Read Full Article
Uganda: Kakira Sugar Opens Shs130 Billion Ethanol Plant
by Isaac Mufumba (All Africa/The Monitor) Kakira Sugar Limited, a local sugar producer, has started commercial production of ethanol at a $36.6 million (Shs133b) distillery. The joint managing director, Mr Mayur Madhvani, told Daily Monitor in an interview last week that
January 09, 2017 Read Full Article
Kaset Thai Upbeat on Q4 Ethanol Revenue
(Bangkok Post) Biofuel gains to back core sugar business -- SET-listed Kaset Thai International Sugar Corporation Plc (KTIS) expects seasonal rising petrol demand in the last quarter of this year to boost its ethanol business and help lift its revenue
January 02, 2017 Read Full Article
Renewable Specialty Chemicals: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Green Biologics
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Green Biologics is focused on the production of renewable n-butanol and other C4 chemicals from various renewable feedstocks, including sugar (cane, molasses, beets), starch (corn) and cellulosic biomass (corn residues, sugar cane bagasse, forest materials and
December 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Record Production of Ethanol May Cut Fuel Bill
by Dipak K Dash (Times of India) Sugar mills recorded the highest ever production of ethanol of more than 110 crore litres during 2015-16 crop year, over 50% more than what was produced during the previous year. According to food ministry officials,
December 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Rotting Rice to Be Used to Make Ethanol
by Yuthana Praiwan (Bangkok Post) Almost 4 million tonnes of decaying rice kept in government stocks for more than two years is expected to be used as feedstock to produce ethanol, due to be in short supply soon, according to
December 08, 2016 Read Full Article
All City Buses Will Run on Biofuel: Nitin Gadkari
by Anjaya Anparthi (Times of India) While launching nation's first ethanol-run Green bus service, Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari promised Nagpur will be the first city to have all its city buses run on biofuel. He said
December 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Mumias Sugar Steps up Regional Molasses Imports on Biting Cane Shortage
by Gerald Andae (Business Daily Africa) Mumias has been importing molasses — the raw material used in ethanol production — from Uganda for over eight months now but, has now extended this to Tanzania. The loss-making sugar miller operates an ethanol
November 30, 2016 Read Full Article
Purti Group Co Develops Bio-CNG for Vehicles
by Snehlata Shrivastav (Economic Times' Energy World) Manas Agro Industries and Infrastructure Limited (MAIIL) of the city, an extension of Purti Group of Industries, has developed a process of producing bio-CNG that can be used as fuel for vehicles. MAIIL is
November 17, 2016 Read Full Article
For the Welfare of His People
(Bangkok Post) Benefits to the nation bestowed by His Majesty's Sufficiency Economy Philosophy -- ... Throughout his 70 years on the throne, King Bhumibol Adulyadej initiated more than 4,500 royal development projects, all of which were derived from his determination to
October 18, 2016 Read Full Article
Biofuels Developments in Australia
by Susan van Dyk and Stephen Schuck (IEA Bioenergy Task 39 and Bioenergy Australia) ... While Australia has large energy resources, it is a net importer of crude oil and refined petroleum products. In 2013, net product imports were 325,000 bbl/d, according to the Australia
September 30, 2016 Read Full Article
Japan’s Ethanol Imports Expected to Increase Slightly
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Japan recently filed an annual biofuels report with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s Global Agricultural Information Network that highlights the country’s ethanol use and production. According to the report, Japan has established its own sustainability
September 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Biofuels: Pumped but Facing an Uphill Struggle
(Ecogeneration) It’s a hard road for the Australian biofuels industry, which turns out bioethanol (or E10 as it’s known at the pump) and biodiesel. Until motorists instinctively reach for the bio-blend pumps the sector has had to rely on “government
September 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Indian Oil Inks MoU with Praj Industries for Development of 2G Ethanol
by Shine Jacob (Business Standard) Indian Oil will be setting up three such 2G bio-ethanol plants -- State-run Indian Oil Corporation has signed a pact with Pune-based Praj Industries to enter into a technology partnership for setting up multiple second Generation
September 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Biofuels Developments in Australia
by Susan van Dyk and Stephen Schuck (IEA Bioenergy Task 39/Bioenergy Australia) Australia’s primary energy consumption is heavily dependent on fossil fuels, with renewables contributing about 7% (including hydroelectricity, wind, solar and biomass) (Figure 1) (US EIA). While Australia has large energy resources, it is
September 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Baseline Report of Clean Cooking Fuels in the East African Community
(Project Gaia) Ethanol fuel production represents a significant opportunity for economic and social development in the East African Community (EAC) region. Ethanol can be produced locally using a variety of feedstocks that can be selected based on unique local conditions. Farmers can grow
September 05, 2016 Read Full Article
Rwanda: Mauritian Investors to Construct Sugar Factory in Eastern Provice
by Emmanuel Ntirenganya (AllAfrica.com) The Government has given investors from Mauritius the green light to set up a sugar processing factory in the country. The agreement will see the investors construct a factory with capacity to produce 100,000 tonnes of sugar
August 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Renewable Specialty Chemicals: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Green Biologics
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Green Biologics is focused on the production of renewable n-butanol and other C4 chemicals from various renewable feedstocks, including sugar (cane, molasses, beets), starch (corn) and cellulosic biomass (corn residues, sugar cane bagasse, forest materials
May 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Oil Firms to Buy More Ethanol from Dry State of Bihar
(Press Trust of India/Business Standard) Weeks after Bihar banned sale of liquor, the Centre has asked state-owned fuel retailers to buy as much ethanol as they can from distilleries in the state for mixing in petrol. Bihar, which in early April
May 16, 2016 Read Full Article
'Ethanol Blending in Petrol Can Cut down Crude Import'
(Daily Hunt) Concerned over slow progress of ethanol blending in petrol and diesel, a parliamentary committee has expressed that the government should implement the Ethanol Blending Programme in order to cut down on crude oil import in the future and
March 21, 2016 Read Full Article
Nigeria: Investing in an Ethanol Plant for Export
by Uba Godwin (This Day/AllAfrica.com/Global Trust Consulting Group) Uba Godwin writes on how cassava and other raw materials could be processed into ethanol for export -- It is disheartened that Nigerians at this level of technological development worldwide are still
February 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Dealing with India's Sugar Mess
by Prerna Sharma (Nikkei Asian Review) Global commodity markets are going through one of their worst phases, thanks to sluggish demand and supply gluts. Most agricultural commodities have touched all-time price lows -- down 40% to 50% on average from
January 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Top 10 Bioeconomy and Biofuels Predictions for 2016
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A mere “The Year in Rewind” as we reach the end of 2015? Not the good ship Digest! Instead, we dust off our crystal ball and peer into tomorrowland. As the sunset of 2015 gives way
January 04, 2016 Read Full Article
More Bioethanol Plants to Rise in 2016 - Martin
(The Visayan Daily Star) More molasses and cane-based bioethanol plants are expected to rise in the country in 2016, Sugar Regulatory Administrator Ma. Regina Martin said yesterday. In the first quarter of 2016, two more molasses-based bioethanol plants are forecast to
December 30, 2015 Read Full Article
CNE and Sunbird to Develop Bioethanol Facilities in Zimbabwe and Zambia
(Biofuels International) China New Energy has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Sunbird Bioenergy Africa for the development of two biorefineries, one each in Zimbabwe and Zambia. The Memorandum of Undestanding (MOU) was signed at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation
December 10, 2015 Read Full Article
Tamil Nadu Sugar Mills Want Cap on Ethanol Output to Go
by Bharani Vaitheesvaran (Economic Times) Tamil Nadu sugar mills are lobbying for permissions to produce more ethanol as they find a state government-cap for making the fuel ingredient is disappointingly low. ... A steady drop in prices and production exceeding demand for two
November 11, 2015 Read Full Article
Uganda Ethanol Plant to Start Commercial Output in July 2016
by Fred Ojambo (Bloomberg Business) Praj Industries of India contracted to build 6,000l/day plant; Uganda to enforce biofuels blending when crude output starts Kakira Sugar Works Ltd., Uganda’s biggest producer of the sweetener, said it will start commercial output at its $36.6 million
October 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Govt Resumes E85 Promotion with Additional Bt2/Litre Subsidy
by Pichaya Changsorn (The Nation) The government yesterday agreed to resume its promotion of E85 gasohol, via the injection of an additional Bt2-per-litre subsidy for the highest ethanol-blended oil product on the market. Energy Minister Anantaporn Kanjanarat said E85 had become unattractive
October 05, 2015 Read Full Article
Fuelling Mackay’s Job Market into the Future
by Emily Smith (Daily Mercury) NOTHING creates jobs like the resource industry. It's a widely held view in the Mackay region but Carl Morton is throwing it up for debate. The national operations manager for Wilmar's bioethanol distillery said employment
September 04, 2015 Read Full Article
US Navy Seeks Australian Cane and Grain Biofuels to Help Power Its Fleet
by Marty McCarthy and Arlie Felton-Taylor (ABC Rural) Could Australian agriculture help to literally fuel the United States Navy's expansion in the Asia-Pacific? -- That is the question a Queensland researcher is trying to answer, as the US moves towards powering
August 24, 2015 Read Full Article
Govt to Make 10% Ethanol Blending Mandatory from Next Year
(Live Mint) At present, it is compulsory to blend 5% ethanol with petrol, but oil marketing companies are able to do around 2% -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a recent meeting said promoting ethanol production in a big way is the
August 13, 2015 Read Full Article
Ethanol: Towards a Viable Alternative for Domestic Cooking in Ethiopia
(Stockholm Environment Institute) This discussion brief is based on findings from a workshop carried out by SEI in Addis Ababa in conjunction with the presentation of the SCIP study results.... It also draws on insights given by nine experts interviewed in Addis Ababa
August 04, 2015 Read Full Article
Production of Biofuel Still in the Mix
(Jamaica Observer) The country is looking to produce its own biofuel and increase the current mix of ethanol in petrol to about 20 per cent. This is according to Principal Director, Policy, Planning, Development and Evaluation Division, in the Ministry
July 08, 2015 Read Full Article
Mumias Sugar to Take on Spectre in Ethanol Plant Strategy
(The Star) Mumias Sugar will start buying bagasse and molasses from rivals to feed its ethanol production plant, it said after reporting massive losses for the first half ended December 31. Ethanol revenues decreased by 23 per cent in the six
March 10, 2015 Read Full Article
Guatemala Launches Pilot Ethanol Tests
(SeeNews Renewables) Guatemala's energy ministry presented on Wednesday a pilot plan to test ethanol in 25 vehicles and five motorcycles during four months. The government will use blends containing 5% and 10% of ethanol, supplied by local alcohol association APAG. The ethanol
February 27, 2015 Read Full Article
Praj Contracts Order for Uganda's Largest Ethanol Plant from Kakira Sugars
(Praj/PR NewsWire/CNBC) Sustainable Technology resulting in generation of 50-60% power requirement through captive cogen unit; Employs Praj's latest ECOSMART technology for multi-product distillery producing fuel ethanol as well as premium grade beverage alcohol; Biocompost from the plant to be used
January 07, 2015 Read Full Article
USGC Ethanol Assessment Team Finds Potential in the Philippines
(U.S. Grains Council/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Grains Council recently led a delegation of industry leaders representing the USDA, Renewable Fuels Association, and Growth Energy to the Philippines to assess factors contributing to the large exports of U.S. ethanol to
December 22, 2014 Read Full Article
Indo-US Joint Effort to Derive Non-Food Biofuels from 2017
by N Madhav (Business Standard) The initiative would work to deliver a model for production using crops like energy sorghum, bamboo, pearl millet and switch grass In a significant step towards generating biofuels from non-food plant sources, the US-India joint consortium for
November 12, 2014 Read Full Article
Egypt Proposes $490 Million in Ethanol Investments to UAE
(Biofuels Digest) In Egypt, the government has proposed the UAE invest $250 million in a 100,000 ton per year molasses-based ethanol plant as well as a $240 million ethanol plant that would use 100,000 tons per year of rice straw as
October 20, 2014 Read Full Article
Thailand Looking to Produce Ethanol from Rotten Rice Stocks - Officials
by Apornrath Phoonphongphiphat (Reuters) Thailand's military government is studying a plan to use rotten rice from state stocks to produce ethanol, hoping to make use of grains that have gone bad and help reduce losses from a costly rice-buying scheme,
August 14, 2014 Read Full Article
The Clean Plate Club: The Search for Value from Food Waste Finds a Center of Gravity in Hawaii
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) All that food waste, all that potential value. What’s being done about all that material heading from the garbage pail to the landfill? Turns out, the State of Hawaii and BioTork are doing a lot.
August 08, 2014 Read Full Article
Ethanol Producer Looks Inward For Feedstock
by Avia Collinder (The Jamaica Gleaner) Discussions are under way between energy and sugar interests for local sugar estates to set aside about one million tonnes of cane annually for the production of wet ethanol. But at least one company in the agro-processing
July 01, 2014 Read Full Article
State May Issue $50M in Bonds for Biofuel Effort
by Tom Callis (Stephens Media Hawaii/West Hawaii Today) Hawaii could issue up to $50 million in special purpose revenue bonds to support a company’s plans to turn agricultural waste into biofuel and animal feed. Since 2011, the Pacific Basin Agricultural
March 04, 2014 Read Full Article
Molasses Can Supply 1/3 of Ukraine's Biofuel Need, Says Official
(Ukrainian Journal) The volume of molasses made in Ukraine in a year is enough to produce only 100,000 tons of bioethanol, which is one third of the country's needs for 2014, Director of Ukrprodspilka Mykola Tychenko, said at a roundtable
October 18, 2013 Read Full Article
India's Struggling Sugar Mills Seek Solace in Ethanol
by Rajendra Jadhav (Reuters) * Govt wants oil companies to achieve 5 pct blending of ethanol in gasoline * Hopes to reduce record current account deficit by cutting crude imports * Demand for ethanol will give sugar mills a shot in the
October 15, 2013 Read Full Article
Ministry of Agriculture of Guyana : Guyana on Path to Agro Fuel Revolution – as President Commissions Bioethanol Demonstration Plant G
(4-Traders.com) Guyana's first ever bioethanol demonstration plant was commissioned today at what was regarded the start of an agro fuel revolution in a country that is leaning aggressively towards a renewable energy pathway. The plant located at the Albion Estate on
August 27, 2013 Read Full Article
4C-Able Future: Biobased Butanol, Butadiene and BDO Are Having a Hot Year
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... It’s been quite a year on the four-carbon platform — also known as C4, 4C, buta-something, Fantastic Four, or what have you. Though two-carbon fuels such as ethanol have long dominated the biofuels market — and
August 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Zambia Sugar Can Produce 10 p.c. Fuel Needs
(BlackSeaGrain) Zambia Sugar has said it can supply up to 10 per cent of the country’s fuel requirement using its ethanol. Zambia Sugar head of corporate affairs Lovemore Sievu said this at the just-ended 87th Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show in
August 08, 2013 Read Full Article
Sugar Company Expands to Biofuel and Electricity
by Tassia Sipahutar (The Jakarta Post) State-owned sugar and tobacco plantation firm PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN) X is expanding into biofuel production and electricity this year in an effort to offset increasing sugar manufacturing costs. The firm needs additional income from other
February 11, 2013 Read Full Article
Kenya: Kisumu Molasses Resumes Operations
by Justus Ochieng (AllAfrica) THE Kisumu molasses plant will outsource for raw materials from Uganda and Tanzania to continue its operations. Insufficient supply of molasses has derailed operations at the company. The plant had been closed for some few Weeks due
February 10, 2013 Read Full Article
Local Ethanol Could Power Cars This Year
(Stabroek News) The Agriculture Ministry and the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) are in talks to use locally produced ethanol to woo investors and sharpen skills that would be put into developing the fledgling non-fossil fuel sector. Guyana is set to start producing
January 24, 2013 Read Full Article
Guyana, UK Company Sign Contract for Bioethanol Oroduction at Albion
by Denis Scott Chabrol (Demera Waves) The United Kingdom-based Whitefox Technologies, together with its partner Green, have secured a bioethanol contract with the Guyanese Government. Whitefox said it is working together with the Brazilian company, Green, to install the units for
December 05, 2012 Read Full Article
Brazil’s Petrobras Plans to Start Producing Ethanol in Mozambique in 2014
(Macau Hub) Brazilian oil company Petrobras plans to start producing ethanol in Mozambique in 2014, the chairman of Petrobras Combustíveis, Miguel Macedo said Tuesday in Maputo. Speaking in Maputo at a conference entitled “Brazil and Africa: Opting for Sustainable Development,” Macedo
November 27, 2012 Read Full Article
The Top 10 Advanced Biofuels and Biorefining Companies in Asia
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...While the economic growth in China has been drawing virtually all the headlines in recent years, the “Tiger” economies of Southeast and South Asia have been fast-growing for a long time, and with resources including
September 04, 2012 Read Full Article
Molasses Can Help Philippines' Ethanol Producers Cut Costs, Fight Imports
(Platts) The use of molasses instead of sugar cane as feedstock for ethanol production could offer hope to ethanol producers in the Philippines as they struggle to cut production costs in a bid to compete with lower-priced imports, producers