History and Development of Batangas’ Sugar Industry

Sugarcane has been part of Batangas agriculture since the Spanish period. In towns such as Balayan, Tanauan, and Bauan, farmers used backyard mills called trapiches. These were simple rollers made of wood or stone, powered not only by carabaos but also by cows and horses¹. The juice was boiled into muscovado sugar, a product for local use and small trade.

Muscovado is unrefined sugar, dark brown in texture, somewhat moist, and has a strong caramel flavor. It is made by boiling sugarcane juice until it thickens and crystallizes. Muscovado is not yet fully processed like refined white sugar.

By the mid‑1800’s, steam‑powered mills began to appear. Imported from Europe and financed by merchant houses, these machines replaced animal power. Steam mills could crush more cane and produce sugar of higher quality². Their arrival marked Batangas’ entry into modern sugar production, allowing haciendas to compete with Negros and Pampanga.

AI-generated image of a sugar mill.

The demand for sugar surged in the 19^th century because of global consumption in Britain and the United States. Tea, coffee, and chocolate became everyday drinks, and sugar was essential to sweeten them. The opening of Manila to world trade in 1834 gave Batangas planters access to foreign buyers³. This motivated farmers and millers to expand cane fields and invest in better technology.

The sugar that Batangas produced was exported by British, American, and even Spanish merchant houses based in Manila. While Britain and the United States were the major markets, Philippine sugar, which included that milled in Batangas, was also exported to Spain, Hong Kong, and other Asian ports.

In 1927, the Central Azucarera de Don Pedro (CADPI) was built in barrio Lumbang, Nasugbu. It was a modern facility with large crushing rollers, boilers, and centrifuges. This new facility was designed for the production of white or refined sugar.

Refined sugar, unlike muscovado, was favored by the market for its purity and consistency. It was easier to store and ship and dissolved quickly, thus meeting the demands of the export markets in the United States.

CADPI served farmers from Nasugbu, Lian, Tuy, and Calatagan, buying their cane and processing it into refined sugar for export⁴. For decades, CADPI was the centerpiece of Batangas sugar, providing jobs and linking the province to international markets. It sold sugar to both the local and international markets.

By the late 20^th century, global competition and rising costs weakened the industry. Imports from Thailand and other countries undercut local prices, leaving Batangas farmers with shrinking profits⁵. In early 2024, CADPI closed permanently, ending Nasugbu’s sugar era and displacing thousands of workers.

Yet Batangas sugar did not vanish. In Balayan, the Universal Robina Corporation (URC) operates a sugar mill. Originally producing about 5,000 tons per day, URC expanded in 2023 by acquiring idle machinery from CADPI, raising its capacity to 8,000 tons daily⁶. The Balayan mill accommodates displaced farmers from Nasugbu and nearby towns. Its output supplies both local consumption and national demand, ensuring sugar remains part of Batangas’ economy.

Today, the story of Batangas sugar is one of rise and decline. From carabao‑driven trapiches to steam mills and modern centrals, Batangas once stood as a proud sugar hub. Its contraction reflects larger national struggles, but Balayan’s surviving mill shows that the legacy continues, even if diminished⁷.