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Duty-free raw sugar window extended to 31 December as output estimate is cut to 306 lakh tonnes
The Finance Ministry has pushed the duty-free import deadline for 1 million tonnes of raw sugar from 31 October to 31 December. Only about 2.6 lakh tonnes have come in so far.
The Centre has given importers two more months to bring in raw sugar without paying duty. A Finance Ministry notification moves the last date for the 1 million tonne Tariff Rate Quota from 31 October to 31 December 2026.
The duty-free window was first opened on 20 August. About 2.6 lakh tonnes have arrived under it so far, a fraction of the quota. The government says the extension is meant to keep supplies adequate through the festive season. Stockholding limits on traders are already in place.
The supply picture explains the move. Sugar output for the 2025-26 season (October to September) is now estimated at 306 lakh tonnes, revised down from 343 lakh tonnes. Annual domestic demand is put at 280-285 lakh tonnes.
Photo: Shakher59 / CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
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