Tezzbuzz Desk- The rising prices of sugar before the festive season has increased the government's concern. There has been a rapid rise in the price of sugar in recent times. To control prices and maintain the availability of sugar in the market, the Central Government has changed the rules related to import of raw sugar.
Under the new rule, it will now be mandatory to refine the raw sugar imported through Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) into white sugar and sell it in the domestic market within two months. The government believes that this step will prevent hoarding of imported sugar and increase the supply in the market.
What changed in the rules of sugar import?
According to the notification issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the raw sugar imported under TRQ will have to be processed and made available for sale in the domestic market within the prescribed time limit. Earlier it was necessary to process the imported raw sugar within a reasonable time frame, so that it Till 31 October 2026 Can be sold in the domestic market. Now, making the rules more stringent, a fixed time limit of two months has been fixed for refining and selling. Its direct objective is to curb the trend of keeping imported raw sugar in warehouses for long periods and waiting for the price to rise.
Amid rising prices, the government Import of 10 lakh tonnes of sugar till 31 October Is allowed. Along with this, stock limit has also been set for cold drink and ice cream manufacturing companies, related traders and wholesale consumers. Many states had demanded strict action from the Central Government against hoarding and black marketing of sugar. After this, the government has taken steps to change the import rules.
According to government data, the all India average retail price of sugar in the country on Monday Rs 63.05 per kilogram Remained. This price was around a month ago Rs 48.73 per kilogram Was. That means the average retail price of sugar during a month has increased by approximately 29 percent increase Was recorded. At the same time, the maximum retail price of sugar is around Rs 75 per kilogram Reached. According to Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra, the price of sugar received from mills also increased from Rs 47-48 per kg to around Rs 62 per kg in just 7 to 10 days.
Why is the price of sugar increasing?
Many reasons are being given for the rise in sugar prices. According to Neeraj Shirgaonkar, chairman of the Indian Sugar Manufacturers Association (ISMA), there is no real shortage of sugar in the country and the existing stock is adequate. However, impact on sugarcane production due to weather conditions, higher crushing rates in Maharashtra and issues related to some sugarcane varieties in Uttar Pradesh are putting pressure on prices. Apart from this, the market has also increased due to increase in demand for sugar during the festive season. Prices have also been affected by reduced supply from Brazil in the global market.
Government also keeps an eye on hoarding and betting
With the increase in market prices, the possibility of hoarding and speculation has also increased. It is being told that some wholesale buyers have started accumulating sugar stock in large quantities. This reduced the quantity of sugar available in the market and led to a rise in prices. One of the main objectives of the government's new rules is to prevent such hoarding. The supply in the market is expected to increase with the setting of the deadline for soon refining the imported raw sugar and releasing it in the market.
Will common people get relief?
This step of the government is expected to increase the availability of sugar in the coming days and reduce the pressure on prices. However, how quickly its impact will be visible in the retail market will depend on domestic demand, availability of sugarcane, global prices and stock position in the market.
At present, the government's efforts are clear to ensure that artificial shortage of sugar does not arise amid increased demand during the festive season and consumers can get relief from increased prices.