On Thursday, the government announced it will permit the duty-free import of 10 lakh tonnes of raw sugar under a tariff rate quota. This measure is effective until October 31 and comes in response to increasing prices for sugar in local markets.
To control prices, the government has also imposed a stockholding limit on bulk consumers who use more than 10 tonnes of sugar a month, capping their stock at 15 days’ consumption.
To control prices, the government has also imposed a stockholding limit on bulk consumers who use more than 10 tonnes of sugar a month, capping their stock at 15 days’ consumption. Retail sugar prices have climbed about 13 per cent year-on-year to Rs 52.30 per kg as on August 18, from Rs 46.34 a year ago, as per consumer affairs ministry data. The food ministry has notified the Sugar (Stockholding Limit of Bulk Consumers) Order, 2026, which covers confectioners, soft drink manufacturers, food processing units, sweetmeat sellers and other institutional buyers.
“The import policy for raw sugar is amended to allow 10 lakh MT of duty-free imports under Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) till October 31, 2026,” the Directorate General of Foreign Trade said in a notification. “The proactive step taken by the government will immediately dispel speculation & ensure adequate supply to consumers at reasonable and stable prices over the coming year,” the food ministry said in a post on X.
