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Ex-mill sugar prices fell nearly 30 per cent to Rs 47 per kg on Monday, from a peak of Rs 67 per kg on August 18, following a series of government interventions, but the drop has yet to filter down to retail shelves, industry sources said. While the decline in ex-mill rates gets reflected almost immediately in wholesale markets, retail prices tend to lag. Retailers who bought stock at the earlier, higher rates are unwilling to sell at a loss and will continue pricing their existing inventory at the older rate until it is exhausted, the sources explained. A retailer typically holds 10-15 bags of sugar, each weighing 50 kg. Only once fresh stock is procured at the lower rate will retail prices adjust accordingly. "It takes at least ten days to reflect changes in the retail price," an industry source said. On Sunday, retail sugar was selling at Rs 64.23 per kg, against a wholesale rate of Rs 59.72 per kg. WHY EX-MILL PRICES FELL ------------------------------ The decline follows t
Sugar prices have skyrocketed in the market amid declining sugarcane production and increased stockpiling by traders, according to experts who attributed the sharp rise to multiple factors but ruled out diversion of sugar towards ethanol production as the main reason. Opposition parties have been targeting the Centre over increased ethanol blending in petrol, alleging that the policy was pushing up sugar prices and imposing an additional financial burden on people. The government has rejected the claims and instead blamed the industry for jacking up prices despite the country having sufficient stock to meet domestic demand. The rate of loose sugar in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, has risen to Rs 75-80 per kg, a supermarket owner said on Sunday. Experts attributed the sharp rise to multiple factors but ruled out diversion of sugar towards ethanol production as the main reason. Former Maharashtra Sugar Commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad said sugarcane production and yields are .
Retail sugar prices have shot up to Rs 70 per kg in Kolkata markets ahead of the festive season, traders said on Friday. Prices have surged by Rs 20 a kg in the past month alone, while the last four to five days have seen a sudden 10 per cent jump, they said. Sugar-associated products such as jaggery, batasa (sugar drop), and nakuldana are also witnessing a similar spike. The Centre on Thursday evening allowed sugar mills to import one million tonne of raw sugar, a measure last resorted to a decade ago, but its impact is yet to trickle down to retail markets, traders said. The government has also imposed a stockholding limit on bulk customers who consume more than 10 tonne of sugar a month, capping their stock at 15 days' consumption. Confederation of West Bengal Trade Association (CWBTA) president Sushil Poddar said there was no control over sugar mills, with wholesale prices already touching Rs 65 a kg. "I sold loose sugar at Rs 65 just three days ago, but today I can't sell bel