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Informist, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026

 

By Afra Abubacker

 

NEW DELHI – Ex-mill prices of sugar were steady in the key markets of Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh on Friday. Rates remained flat from the previous trading day due to a lack of fresh cues, traders said. 

 

"The market is entirely flat. Nothing new is happening," Mukesh Kuvadia, secretary of the Bombay Sugar Merchants Association, said. Maharashtra markets reopened on Friday, after a one-day closure on Thursday for local body elections. 

 

Mills in Uttar Pradesh also kept prices unchanged. "Ex-mill rates are steady. But, resale rates are down by INR 5-INR 10 due to weak demand and selling pressure," Naresh Gupta, a trader from north India, said.

 

Meanwhile, sugar production across India rose nearly 22% on year to 15.9 million tonnes as of mid-January in the current season ending September, the Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association said Friday. Sugar output has progressed steadily so far this season, supported by higher sugarcane availability, improved productivity, and smooth mill operations, the association said. 

 

In November, ex-mill sugar rates hovered around INR 3,900-INR 4,000, but prices have started to decline as crushing operations gathered pace. Currently, rates are around INR 3,700-INR 3,800 in Maharashtra, an official from the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories said. 

 

"The S-grade sugar prices in Karnataka and Maharashtra are around INR 3,570-INR 3,630 per 100 kg levels," he added. Sugar varieties are broadly classified into S-grade and M-grade based on grain size and usage. S-grade sugar, with relatively smaller grains, is largely produced in southern states and is mainly used by bulk consumers. The M-grade sugar is predominantly produced in northern states, including Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, and is primarily preferred by households. 

 

The following are the highlights of sugar prices in the domestic market:

--Flat at INR 3,800-INR 3,950 per 100 kg in western Uttar Pradesh

--Flat at INR 3,800-INR 3,950 per 100 kg in central Uttar Pradesh

--Flat at INR 3,845-INR 4,005 per 100 kg in Mumbai

--Flat at INR 3,750-INR 3,835 per 100 kg in Kolhapur

 

At 1645 IST, the price of sugar on the Intercontinental Exchange was up 1.4% at 14.78 cents per pound. Sugar prices rose, tracking gains in crude oil prices on the NYMEX. Typically, higher crude oil prices prompt more diversion of sucrose for ethanol production, reducing the availability of sugar.  End

 

US$1 = INR 90.86

IST, or Indian Standard Time, is five-and-a-half hours ahead of GMT

 

Edited by Saji George Titus

 

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