India Eases Raw Sugar Import Rules as It Cracks Down on Hoarding
Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra said import curbs and anti-hoarding steps pushed ex-mill sugar prices down 18% to ₹55 per kg, though retail rates remain high.
- Last week, the Centre allowed 1 million tonnes of raw sugar imports to counter rising costs, while also imposing stock limits on bulk consumers to check hoarding and speculation.
- Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra attributed the recent price spike to mills "jacking up" rates, noting that production for the 2025-26 marketing year fell below earlier estimates.
- Ex-Mill sugar prices have declined 18% to 55 per kg, though retail rates rose 29 per cent. Managing Director Prakash Naiknavare of the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories noted a 7-8 per kg gap.
- Flying squads have been deployed nationwide to check hoarding and speculation, and the Centre's intervention has helped arrest the price rise, though declines have yet to filter to retail markets.
- Domestic demand stands at 280-285 lakh tonnes, while production for the 2025-26 marketing year reached 306 lakh tonnes; despite lower production, the country maintains ample stocks to meet requirements.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Sugar prices continue to rise across the country. Meanwhile, the Modi government has changed the rules for the import of raw sugar. Now, refined sugar must be sold every two months. The Modi government has amended the rules for the import of raw sugar. Instead of requiring raw sugar imported under the TRQ (Tariff Rate Quota) to be sold by a fixed date, each consignment will have a different deadline. What are the new rules? According to the gov…
Rule Change: Amid the sudden surge in sugar prices, the government has changed the rules related to its import, aimed at preventing hoarding and black marketing of sugar.
The Economic Times
Times of IndiaIndia eases raw sugar import rules as it cracks down on hoarding
The government has extended the processing window for duty-free raw sugar imports. This move aims to increase domestic sugar availability before the festive season. Domestic sugar prices have risen sharply due to tighter supplies and increased demand. The government is also curbing hoarding by reducing stockholding limits for bulk consumers. These measures seek to stabilize sugar prices and ensure adequate supply for consumers.
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