Centre allocates 14 lakh tonnes of sugar for sales in Oct 1-15 ahead of Dussehra

The Indian government has allocated 14 lakh tonnes of sugar for sales in the domestic market between October 1 and 15, as the new sugar season commences. This quota includes 1 lakh tonnes reserved for standalone refiners. The move aims to temper retail prices before the Dussehra festival, which is celebrated on October 20.

The new season's sugar crushing is expected to begin earlier in Maharashtra and western Uttar Pradesh. Mills must sell at least 45% of their allocation in the first week and the remaining quantity in the following week. Mills that commence crushing in October can sell their sugar beyond the quota during October and November.

Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka collectively received 83% of the total allocation – 10.77 lakh tonnes, 4.39 lakh tonnes, 4.18 lakh tonnes, and 2.20 lakh tonnes, respectively. Refiners received a similar 1 lakh tonnes allocation, the same as in the previous two allocations. However, Shree Renuka Sugars and Shri Dutt India each received 50,000 tonnes for the first fortnight of October, identical to the first fortnight of September.

The government has instructed sugar mills to ensure that the sold sugar is dispatched from the mill within seven days of the sale. For this purpose, the term ‘sale’ refers to the generation or issuance of the sale invoice by the sugar mill, and the sale date is considered as the date of invoice generation or issuance.

The total allocation for the 2025-26 season (October-September) is 272 lakh tonnes, a 1.3% decrease from the 275.5 lakh tonnes allocated in 2024-25. However, India's annual sugar consumption is projected to be between 285-290 lakh tonnes.