Sugar prices seen slipping on weak demand, quota

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| The market is also rife with speculation that the quota for the current month may be further raised, they said. |
| Spot prices are seen falling over the week as millers and stockists try and sell off the sugar quota for the month. |
| "Prices are likely to be depressed as the government has announced an additional quota of 100,000 tonne for sale in August," said a Mumbai-based trader. |
| "The additional quota has turned the market sentiment bearish." he added.On July 29, the government had announced a quota of 1.1 million tonne. On August 3, the monthly quota was raised by 100,000 tonne. |
| In India, the government decides the quantum of sugar mills can sell every month. The open market sale quota for July was fixed at 1.1 million tonne. |
| According to traders, the demand has also tapered off with the onset of heavy rains. Sugar storage becomes difficult during rains-thus denting the demand. |
| Fresh arrivals are also seen pulling down prices, traders said.After the let-up in the rains that lashed Maharashtra late last month, the transportation woes have also eased. |
| Around 700 tonne of sugar arrived in the Vashi market today. |
| "The transport freight rates have come down and this has also pulled down prices," said Mukesh Kuvadia, joint secretary, Bombay Sugar Mills Association. |
| Freight charges were Rs 80-85 per 100 kg when the rains lashed Maharashtra. It has now come down to Rs 65 Kuvadia said.Sugar futures are also seen trading lower on weak demand, traders said. |
| "Volumes traded on the exchanges are low and this is pulling down prices. The trend could continue for some days as the demand is weak," said Jigar Pandit, a trader with Sharekhan Commodities, a Mumbai-based brokerage. |
| Market is also rife with talk that the government may release additional quota of around 0.2 million tonne. This speculation is also pulling down prices, an analyst with a Mumbai-based brokerage. |
| Analysts see M-grade August sugar contract on the National Commodities and Derivatives Exchange finding support at Rs 50 per 100 kg. |
First Published: Aug 10 2005 | 12:00 AM IST