Sugar prices remain below Rs. 60 per kg for fourth straight day
All-India average retail sugar prices remained below Rs. 60 per kg for the fourth consecutive day on Monday, despite festive demand. Government measures, including allowing imports and tightening stockholding norms, have helped contain prices, while regional variations persisted
New Delhi: The average all-India retail price of sugar remained below Rs. 60 per kg for the fourth straight day on Monday following a series of government measures, even as festive demand put upward pressure on prices in some regions.
On Monday, the average retail sugar price stood at Rs. 59.57 per kg, marginally up from Rs. 58.99 per kg on the previous day. Sugar prices dropped below the Rs. 60 per kg level on Friday and eased further over the last three days, according to data maintained by the Consumer Affairs Ministry.
However, the average retail price remains higher than the Rs. 58.23 per kg recorded on August 21, when the Centre first allowed sugar imports and took other steps to rein in sweetener prices.
The maximum retail price remained firm at Rs. 85 per kg, while the minimum was Rs. 40 per kg on Monday, the ministry data showed.
Among the southern states, retail prices edged up in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, while Tamil Nadu and Kerala saw marginal declines.
In Andhra Pradesh, the average retail price rose to Rs. 55.56 per kg on Monday from Rs. 49.58 per kg on August 21, while in Kerala, it inched up to Rs. 57.80 per kg from Rs. 56.75 per kg over the same period.
In the major sugar-producing states, prices eased. Maharashtra’s average retail price fell to Rs. 58.22 per kg from Rs. 59 per kg, while in Uttar Pradesh, it fell to Rs. 57.88 per kg from Rs. 59.64 per kg on August 21.
Among other states, Madhya Pradesh recorded a sharper fall, with prices dropping to Rs. 56.57 per kg from Rs. 62.36 per kg, while West Bengal saw a marginal dip to Rs. 60.43 per kg from Rs. 60.95 per kg.
On August 21, the government allowed sugar imports and further tightened stockholding norms for bulk users and dealers.
The government has accused sugar mills of “jacking up” prices, maintaining that the country has adequate stocks to meet demand. It has, however, lowered its production estimate for the 2025-26 marketing year (October-September) to 306 lakh tonnes, from an earlier forecast of 343 lakh tonnes. Annual domestic demand is pegged at 280-285 lakh tonnes.
