Centre allows duty-free import of raw sugar to curb surging prices

The Indian government has allowed the import of 1 million tonnes of raw sugar duty-free in an effort to curb surging sugar prices. This move, announced on Thursday, is set to remain in effect until October 31. Importantly, the imported raw sugar must undergo refinement before it can be sold as white sugar in the market. This is the first time India permits the import of raw sugar since the 2016-17 season.

The recent restrictions on sugar imports were imposed to address tight supplies ahead of India's peak sugar-demand period, which typically spans from August to November. During this time, festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Dussehra, and Diwali increase demand from households, sweet shops, and food companies. The order comes shortly after sugar prices skyrocketed to unprecedented levels, reaching up to ₹7,100 per 100kg in key markets in Karnataka.

Pallavi Singhal, based in New Delhi, specializes in reporting on agriculture, food policy, and the rural economy. She has extensively covered farm policy, food inflation, procurement, agri-markets, and rural livelihoods over the past four years. Singhal previously worked at Moneycontrol and Informist, and began her journalism career with The Indian Express in Chandigarh in 2019.

In her free time, she enjoys traveling and reading crime fiction, particularly mysteries that are easy to solve, unlike complex government policies.