India to import one million tonnes of sugar at nil duty after nearly a decade
The decision follows lower domestic production estimates of around 27.9 million tonnes after accounting for ethanol diversion, driving prices higher.
New Delhi1 min read
Last updated
India will import one million tonnes of sugar at nil duty, the first such move in nearly ten years, as domestic prices rise.
Some estimates put the country's actual net sugar production in the 2025-26 season at around 27.9 million tonnes after accounting for 2.4 million tonnes diverted to ethanol.
The duty-free import is intended to ease supply pressure and moderate prices. Exact timing and the list of eligible importers were still being finalised at the time of the announcement.
India is normally a large sugar producer and exporter. The shift to imports reflects the impact of lower cane availability and higher ethanol blending targets on the sweetener balance.
Traders and mills are watching the arrival schedule closely. The measure is expected to influence both domestic wholesale prices and the global sugar market, where India has been a swing factor in recent seasons.
