Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) allows duty-free imports of 10 lakh tonnes raw sugar until October 31

Key facts

• The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has allowed duty-free imports of up to 10 lakh metric tonnes (1 million tonnes) of raw sugar until October 31, 2026.
• The imports are permitted under a tariff rate quota (TRQ) of 10 lakh MT, subject to specified conditions.
• The move comes ahead of the festival season and amid concerns over domestic sugar supplies.
• India is the world's second-largest sugar producer.
• India's monsoon rainfall was 13% below normal in the period cited by the India Meteorological Department, after a deficit of more than 40% towards the end of June.
• El Niño-related risks have pushed New York sugar futures to their highest level in about a year.
• The government has allowed a one-time conversion of Advance Authorisations issued under SION E-52 to the TRQ scheme.
• Importers opting for the conversion must pay the GST exemption availed at the time of import.
• Refined sugar manufactured from the imported raw sugar must be sold in the domestic market by October 31, 2026.