Centre Eases Sugar Import Rules to Boost Supplies
What Happened
The Centre has revised rules for duty-free raw sugar imports, replacing the fixed October 31 deadline with a flexible two-month window linked to each shipment's Bill of Entry. Importers can now refine and sell sugar within two months of customs clearance, giving mills and refiners more operational flexibility. The overall import quota of 1 million tonnes and the October 31 import cut-off remain unchanged.
Key Takeaways
The move is aimed at ensuring adequate sugar supplies and curbing price pressures ahead of the festive season. By easing logistical constraints for importers, the government hopes to bring more refined sugar into the domestic market and stabilize prices.