News

Global prices have fallen over a quarter so far in 2017 to around $378 a tonne as output is expected to climb in key producers like India, China and Thailand. Sugar cane is a popular crop in the country as the government sets procurement prices, while the industry is protected by a 40 per cent import tariff which has led to high domestic prices. The country last had an export subsidy in 2015/16, set at 13,000 rupees ($124) per tonne for exports of 650,000 tonnes of the sweetener, and a similar subsidy level is needed again. The country produced 7 million tonnes of sugar in the 2016/17 marketing year ending September 30, exceeding local demand of around 5 million tonnes, and the association pegs this year’s crop at a record 8 million tonnes. Industry urges govt to allow export of 2m tons of sugar.

Mauritius cut its 2017 sugar production forecast by 2.7 percent, blaming above average rainfall for a poor harvest. It now expects sugar production of 350,000 tonnes this year, down from a previous forecast of 360,000 tonnes. Rainfall in the month of May was well above average representing 272 percent of the long-term average while the island received only 90 percent of the normal sunshine. Mauritius produced 386,277 tonnes of sugar in 2016. Sugar contributes about 1 percent of the Indian Ocean island’s $13 billion gross domestic product.

With the crop developing well, as a result of favourable recent rainfall and temperatures, the latest sugar production estimate for the coming season was in excess of 1.4m tonnes, and this would help to mitigate the impact on profit of lower prices. A reduction in stocks, together with the abolition of sugar quota and export restrictions from October this year, meant that the contracted area for 2017-18 had been increased by a third.

With domestic sugar prices in the wholesale market quoted at around Rs 39 a kg, imported sugar continues to remain cost-effective in southern states even with a 25 per cent duty. In Tamil Nadu, sugar is priced Rs 1.50-2 a kg more than that in Maharashtra due to supply shortage. The southern state faces huge supply deficit this year due to three-four years of subsequent drought resulting into lower local production. Worryingly, the drought continued this year too, which prompted policy makers to allow raw sugar import of 300,000 tonnes at 25 per cent of import duty against the prevailing duty of 50 per cent.

Up in arms against the failure of the state government to make payment of arrears to sugarcane growers and to accept the other demands of farmers, the Bharti Kisan Union — Lakhowal (BKU) has decided to hold indefinite gherao at the residence of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.

Prices of sugar were down in key wholesale markets across the country after the Centre allowed imports of the commodity. The Centre has allowed import of 300,000 tonnes raw sugar at a basic Customs duty of 25 per cent under the tariff rate quota for 60 days. The import of 300,000 tonnes sugar has been allowed through the ports of Tuticorin and Chennai in Tamil Nadu, Karaikal in Puducherry, Mangalore in Karnataka, and Kakinada, Visakhapatnam and Gangavaram in Andhra Pradesh. This season, average sugar prices in southern India have been ₹150-200 per 100 kg higher than those in the north due to this fall in output. Since the import has been allowed under the tariff rate quota, millers and refiners have to convert the imported raw sugar into refined or white sugar within 30 days from the date of bill of entry.