Sugar

What it is

Plantation white sugar from cane mills; refined sugar from refineries. Used by bakeries, beverages, sweets, confectionery and pharma.

S-30 and M-30 (crystal size grades)Refined (ICUMSA 45)Raw sugar

Where India produces it

1. Uttar Pradesh

   2023-24: 215.81 million tonnes (47.62% of India). Figure is sugarcane; PIB names UP and Maharashtra as the top cane states

2. Maharashtra

   2023-24: 112.09 million tonnes (24.73% of India). Figure is sugarcane

3. Karnataka

   2023-24: 41.81 million tonnes (9.23% of India). Figure is sugarcane

Where imports come from

India usually produces more than it eats (about 300-340 lakh MT made against 280-290 lakh MT consumed a year, per PIB). In 2026 the Centre allowed duty-free import of 10 lakh MT of raw sugar after output fell to an expected 306 LMT.

• Brazil — US$ 1361.27 million imported under HS 1701 in 2024-25

Rules before you buy or sell

• Sugar dealers face a stock limit of 400 tonnes from 1 August to 30 November 2026; from 1 September 2026 bulk consumers may not hold more than 15 days' stock (PIB, 26 August 2026).
• Mills sell under the monthly release quota and minimum selling price set by DFPD under the Sugar (Control) Order.
• Import and export are governed by the ITC(HS) policy; check the current DGFT notification before you sign a contract, because policy for farm goods changes often.
• FSSAI licence or registration is needed to process, pack, store or sell it as food (Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006).

Storage and handling

Store in dry godowns on pallets; humidity makes it cake.

Businesses that use it

Bakery (Bread / Biscuit / Cookies) →Confectionery (Toffee and Hard Candy) →Multi-Fruit Juice and Squash Unit →Jam, Jelly and Murabba Making →Ice Cream Making Unit →Sweetened Condensed Milk Unit →Homeopathic Sugar Globules Unit →Cream Wafer Biscuits →