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Informist, Tuesday, Mar. 17, 2026

 

By Taniva Singha Roy

 

MUMBAI – Ex-mill prices of sugar remained down in key markets of Uttar Pradesh due to subdued demand, traders said. As prices are on a downtrend, traders in the resales market are hesitant to buy at the moment as they expect prices to fall further, they said. In Maharashtra, prices were steady.

 

Mills in Uttar Pradesh cut prices by INR 5-INR 10 per 100 kg as demand did not pick up even at the reduced prices, said Naresh Gupta, a trader from north India. Traders are reluctant to stock up sugar at the moment as they expect prices to fall more, Gupta said. Moreover, they want to liquidate the existing stocks before the financial year ends, Gupta said.

 

So far this month, prices of the sweetener have fallen INR 50-INR 60 per 100 kg, he said. Prices had risen after the March sales quota was announced due to concerns of it being lower than requirement. However, prices have fallen below the February levels. The government has set the domestic sugar sales quota for March at 2.25 million tonnes. The quota for the month was 2.2% lower than 2.30 million tonnes in March 2025 but unchanged from February.

 

Mills in Maharashtra kept prices steady, said Mukesh Kuvadia, secretary of the Bombay Sugar Merchants Association. Prices may fall by another INR 10-INR 20 per 100 kg before stabilising, he added.

 

Following are the highlights of sugar prices in the domestic market:

--Down INR 5-INR 10 at INR 3,915-INR 4,010 per 100 kg in west Uttar Pradesh

--Down INR 5-INR 10 at INR 3,905-INR 4,010 per 100 kg in central Uttar Pradesh

--Flat at INR 3,805-INR 3,820 per 100 kg in Mumbai

--Flat at INR 3,990-INR 4,060 per 100 kg in Kolhapur

 

At 1739 IST, sugar prices on the Intercontinental Exchange were up 1.8% at 12.44 cents per pound, tracking a rise in crude oil prices on the NYMEX. Higher crude oil prices increase the diversion of sucrose for ethanol production, decreasing the availability of sugar.  End

 

US$1 = INR 92.37

 

Edited by Ashish Shirke

 

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