NEW DELHI: Sugar dealers across most of India will be restricted to holding a maximum of 1,000 quintals from 15 October to 30 November 2026 as the government tightens stockholding rules during the festive season.
Dealers will also be barred from holding sugar for more than 15 days from the date they receive the stock. The measures are intended to discourage hoarding and keep supplies moving through the distribution chain.
Higher limit for Kolkata and Assam
Kolkata and its extended metropolitan areas, along with Assam, will have a higher stock limit of 2,000 quintals because of regional supply and transport requirements.
Kolkata receives sugar from Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka and acts as an important distribution point for eastern and North-Eastern markets. Assam has also been given the higher limit because of geographical and logistics constraints.
Retail prices down from August peak
Average retail sugar prices have fallen by 15% from their August peak, while ex-mill prices have declined by about 28% and remained stable over the past three weeks, according to government figures.
Wholesalers and retailers have been asked to pass lower ex-mill prices on to consumers. Sugar mills have also been advised to begin crushing operations in line with local agro-climatic conditions.
The government said it would continue monitoring the effect of uneven and deficient rainfall linked to El Niño conditions in some sugar-producing regions and take measures to balance domestic availability, consumer prices and returns to sugarcane farmers.
The new limits build on recent steps to regulate sugar stocks and market supply. Medilytix earlier reported on the government’s consumer-price measures for major edible oils.