New Delhi, Oct. 24:
The Union government has extended the deadline for duty-free imports of one million tonnes of raw sugar under the Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) scheme until December 31, 2026, in a move aimed at improving domestic availability during the festive season.
The extension was announced through a Finance Ministry notification. The government had initially permitted the import of one million tonnes of raw sugar on August 20, with the deadline set for October 31. The additional time is intended to help ensure supplies, particularly if international prices become favourable for imports.
Industry data indicate that around 2.6 lakh tonnes of raw sugar had been imported so far. Industry sources said imports had remained subdued because international prices were not sufficiently competitive with domestic prices.
The government has also introduced other measures to improve availability and prevent excessive price increases, including stockholding limits for traders.
Sugar production in the 2025-26 marketing year, which runs from October to September, is now estimated at 306 lakh tonnes, down from an earlier projection of 343 lakh tonnes. Domestic annual demand is estimated at between 280 lakh and 285 lakh tonnes.
The extension is expected to provide importers with more time to bring in supplies if global market conditions make purchases viable, while supporting the government’s efforts to maintain adequate domestic availability and contain prices.