The government has decided against allowing a second tranche of sugar exports in the current season (October-September).
This decision aims to prevent a spike in domestic sweetener prices in the coming months.
Lower yields in Maharashtra and Karnataka have impacted sugar production, leading to concerns about future supplies.
The industry had projected exporting around 8 million tonnes (MT) of sugar in the 2022-23 season after meeting ethanol production requirements.
Retail inflation for sugar was 1.57% in April 2023, with negative sugar inflation in November and December 2022.
Sugar prices are expected to increase in the summer months due to higher demand for cold drinks, ice cream, and dairy products.
The government is closely monitoring prices to avoid any significant price spikes caused by lower output. India had exported a record 11.2 MT of sugar in the previous season.
Indonesia, Bangladesh, the UAE, Djibouti, Malaysia, Sudan, and Somalia are major destinations for India's sugar exports.
Sugar exports in the 2020-21 season reached 7.1 MT, while in the seasons 2017-18, 2018-19, and 2019-20, the exported quantities were 0.6 MT, 3.8 MT, and 5.9 MT, respectively.
The government implemented the maximum admissible export quota (MAEQ) in 2020-21 and the open general license system in 2021-22 for sugar exports.