India allows duty-free import of 1 million tonnes of raw sugar to cool prices

India has allowed duty-free imports of 1 million metric tons of raw sugar until 31 October. The move aims to ease record domestic prices before the festival season and could lift global sugar benchmarks.India will allow duty-free imports of 1 million metric tons of raw sugar, a commerce ministry notice said on Thursday, as the government seeks to bring down record-high prices that have squeezed consumers.The notice allows for the imports between now and October 31, ahead of India's festival season, when demand for sugar in the world's biggest sugar consumer peaks because of demand for cakes and sweets.Sugar prices in India have risen by nearly 40% in two months as lower production has tightened supplies, forcing India to import sugar for the first time in nearly a decade.Increased Indian imports are likely to support benchmark prices in London and New York , analysts say. - EndsPublished By: Priyanka KumariPublished On: Aug 20, 2026 20:22 IST