Centre provides additional allotment of 2 LMT sugar in domestic quota for August

The government informed on Tuesday that bearing in mind the strong demand for sugar for upcoming festivals of Onam, Raksha Bandhan, and Krishna Janamashtami, an additional quota of 2 LMT — over and above 23.5 LMT already allocated for this month — is being allocated for the month of August, 2023. The additional sugar in domestic market will ensure reasonable prices all over the country, it added.

The official release said that despite 25 per cent increase in international sugar prices in last one year, the average retail price of sugar in the country is about Rs 43.30 per kg and is likely to remain in range bound only. The government informed that there has been less than 2 per cent annual inflation in the country in sugar prices in last 10 years.

During the current Sugar season (October-September) 2022-23, India is estimated to have production of 330 LMT sugar after diversion of about 43 LMT for ethanol production, and the domestic consumption is expected to be around 275 LMT.

The government said that at present stage, India has sufficient sugar stock to meet its domestic demand for remaining months of current SS 2022-23 and optimum closing stock of 60 LMT (sufficient to meet sugar consumption for 2.5 months) will be available at the end of this season — September 30th.

The authorities have observed that the recent increase in sugar prices will cool down soon as each year during July-September, just before next season, prices increase and then come down on start of cane crushing. Thus, the release said that the price rise in sugar is very nominal and for short duration.