There is no shortage of sugar in the country. The Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) has clarified that prices will come down soon. While sugar prices have been rising continuously, the association has given a clear picture of the situation. On Monday, ISMA said that there is no shortage of sugar in the country and there is hope that prices will come down in the retail market in the coming days. Sugar has become more expensive by more than 20% in the last month and has reached Rs 56-60 per kg. After this, the government has approved duty-free imports to provide reassurance.
ISMA President Neeraj Shirgaonkar said that the main reason for the recent increase in sugar prices is the unrest of hoarders and reduced production due to seasonal problems. He said that the foundation of sugar supply in India is strong. There is sufficient stock in the country to meet the upcoming demand. After the price of sugar in the retail and wholesale markets reached Rs 56-60 per kg, the central government took a big decision on August 20. The government has allowed the import of 1 million tonnes of raw sugar without any customs duty, which can increase the supply in the market and control the price.
The National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories has stated that domestic supply is sufficient. NFCSF President Prakash Naiknavre said that the federation has kept its net sugar production estimate for the 2025-26 season unchanged at 27.9 million tonnes. According to NFCSF, some consignments of imported sugar may reach Indian ports before October 15. Prakash Naiknavre said that Thailand itself is moving towards a sugar shortage. In such a situation, Brazil is the only option now. It may take 40-45 days for the ships from Brazil to reach India, after which it will be transported to the sugar mills. The timeline will depend on DGFT approvals, letters of credit and port congestion. Coastal states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh will get the imported sugar first.
