India needs to import 2 mn tonnes of sugar to meet deficit

India needs to import another 2 million tonnes of sugar in 2009-10 season to meet the domestic demand, an industry body today said.

"The country has contracted to import 3.8 million tonnes of sugar so far this season, of which, 1.8 million tonnes have arrived," Indian Sugar Mills Association President Sameer Somaiya told reporters here.

Besides, the country has an opening stock of 1.5 million tonnes of imported sugar, taking the total availability of the sweetener from the overseas market to 5.3 million tonnes.

"The gap between domestic demand and supply is 7 million tonnes. So, we need to import another 2 million tonnes of sugar in the next nine and half months," he said.

Somaiya said India's sugar output is estimated at a little lower than 16 million tonnes in 2009-10 (October-September), while the domestic demand is pegged at 23 million tonnes.

In order to curb rising sugar prices, which have doubled in last one year at Rs 40 a kg, the Centre allowed imports of raw and refined sugar at zero duty from April to augment domestic availability.

When asked about the closing stock of current season, Somaiya said it would remain at the same level (about 3 million tonnes) as last season.