More Stories

Informist, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026

 

By Afra Abubacker

 

NEW DELHI – Ex-mill prices of sugar rose in key markets of Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh on Monday on expectations of a hike in the minimum selling price, traders said. "Market is up INR 20 today. There is a market chatter that the government is likely to raise sugar MSP (minimum selling price)," Mukesh Kuvadia, secretary of the Bombay Sugar Merchants Association, said. Kuvadia said the uptick was sentiment-driven rather than demand-led, noting that demand remained weak. 

 

On Friday, Chinimandi, a sugar trade media, reported that the government is likely to hike the minimum selling price of sugar "soon", adding that it could be raised to INR 37.50–INR 38.00 per kilogram. Currently, the minimum selling price of sugar is INR 31 per kg, unchanged since February 2019. Informist could not independently confirm the report with government officials. 

 

The sugar industry has been urging the government to hike the minimum selling price of sugar, citing higher sugarcane prices. In addition, increased sugar production in the ongoing season is weighing on prices, according to market participants. In the ongoing 2025-26 (Oct-Sept) season, sugar production is up nearly 22% on year to 15.9 million tonnes as of mid-January, supported by higher sugarcane availability, improved productivity, and smooth operations of mills, according to the Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association. 

 

Amid higher production, ex-mill sugar prices in Maharashtra and Karnataka had further declined to around INR 3,550 per 100 kilograms, which is significantly below the current cost of production, ISMA said Friday. 

 

Expectations of increased minimum selling prices have lifted ex-mill rates across major sugar-producing states. In Uttar Pradesh, prices rose INR 20-INR 30 per 100 kg, while Karnataka recorded the sharpest rises of INR 30-INR 40 per 100 kg, breaching INR 3,600 levels from INR 3,550 levels last week, according to market participants. In Gujarat, ex-mill rates rose by INR 10 per 100 kg. 

 

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

--M grade sugar up INR 20-INR 30 at INR 3,880-INR 4,050 per 100 kg in Uttar Pradesh

--Up INR 20 at INR 3,900-INR 3,992 per 100 kg in Mumbai

--Up INR 20 at INR 3,750-INR 3,800 per 100 kg in Kolhapur

 

Sugar prices on the Intercontinental Exchange were unavailable on Monday, as US markets were closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. End

 

Edited by Saji George Titus

 

For users of real-time market data terminals, Informist news is available exclusively on the NSE Cogencis WorkStation.

 

Cogencis news is now Informist news. This follows the acquisition of Cogencis Information Services Ltd. by NSE Data & Analytics Ltd., a 100% subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. As a part of the transaction, the news department of Cogencis has been sold to Informist Media Pvt. Ltd.

 

Informist Media Tel +91 (22) 6985-4000

Send comments to feedback@informistmedia.com

 

© Informist Media Pvt. Ltd. 2026. All rights reserved.