Govt should not allow more sugar imports: NFCSF

Centre should not allow additional raw sugar imports as that will adversely impact wholesale prices and mills ability to make sugarcane payments to growers, said cooperative sugar mills body NFCSF. Govt has allowed import of 5,00,000 tonnes of raw sugar at zero duty to boost domestic supply with production expected to decline sharply to 20 million tonnes in the current 2016-17 marketing year from 25 million tonnes in the previous year. Govt has extended the deadline for import of raw sugar till June-end from the current June 12 timeline. The Board has strong reservation for any additional quantity or extension of June deadline for sugar imports in the country because it would definitely bring down the ex-mill sugar price and could adversely impact on mills ability to pay cane price. More imports are not required as the country would have an opening stock of 3.4 million tonnes at the beginning of the 2017-18 season from October 2017.