{
  "id": 2802344,
  "title": "Sugar price hike: MCCI voices food product manufacturing industry’s concerns",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/sugar-price-hike-mcci-voices-food-product-manufacturing-industrys",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-23T14:21:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/sugar-price-hike-mcci-voices-food-product-manufacturing-industrys-concerns/article71381236.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The rise in sugar prices has raised concerns within the food-product manufacturing and hotel industries, according to the Mysuru Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI). MCCI President K.B. Lingaraju expressed worry that the sharp increase in sugar prices is adversely affecting these sectors, alongside domestic consumers. Lingaraju highlighted that the surge in sugar costs is not only impacting the production expenses of bakeries, sweet manufacturers, biscuit manufacturers, beverage companies, food-processing units, hotels, restaurants, and other small and medium-sized industries, but also putting pressure on them due to rising electricity costs, labor expenses, transportation charges, packaging costs, and prices of various raw materials.\n\nLingaraju warned that with sugar prices rising rapidly, these industries may be forced to increase their own product prices, exacerbating the burden on consumers. Conversely, if the prices remain unchanged, the industries would suffer financial losses. He urged the central and state governments to take immediate action, implementing a system for supplying sugar at subsidized rates to these industries and the hotel sector. Lingaraju also recommended closely monitoring sugar stocks, production, and the quantity of sugarcane or sugar being diverted for ethanol production.\n\nThe MCCI president called for strict measures to prevent artificial shortages and illegal hoarding in the market. He emphasized the need for consultations with sugar factories and industry associations to stabilize sugar prices. Lingaraju noted that while inadequate rainfall causing a decline in sugarcane production is a major factor, the Central government's policy of increasing ethanol blending in petrol is also contributing to the problem by diverting larger quantities of sugarcane and sugar-based products towards ethanol production.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}