India extends duty-free raw sugar import deadline to December 31 under tariff rate quota

Key facts

• India extended the deadline for duty-free imports of 10 lakh tonnes of raw sugar by two months, from October 31 to December 31, via a notification issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
• The duty-free imports were allowed under the tariff rate quota (TRQ) mechanism after domestic sugar prices hit record highs in August, amid falling domestic production and exports.
• Only about 3 lakh tonnes of the 10 lakh tonnes allowed under the August 20 notification have been imported so far, as government measures to curb domestic prices reduced the import incentive.
• Industry expects sugar production in the 2026-27 sugar season (October-September) to be lower than last year due to El Nino-induced drought.