Centre cuts the sugar stock holding period for dealers to 15 days and caps stocks at 1,000 quintals

1 October 2026

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution announced revised sugar stock holding norms in a release on 1 October 2026, as the new sugar season began on 1st October. The stock holding period for sugar dealers has been reduced to 15 days and the stock holding limit fixed at 1,000 quintals, with effect from 15 October 2026 to 30 November 2026. A dealer shall not hold sugar stock for a period exceeding 15 days from the date of receipt of such stock, and shall not hold more than 1,000 quintals at any time and at any place across the country. The limit has been fixed at 2,000 quintals for Kolkata and its extended metropolitan areas and the State of Assam. The Ministry said Kolkata sources sugar from Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka and supplies the eastern part of the country including the North-Eastern region, while the higher limit for Assam reflects geographical constraints and transportation logistics. Average retail sugar prices have declined by 15 per cent from their August peak and ex-mill sugar prices have declined by approximately 28 per cent. The Ministry stated that sugarcane farmers and consumers are the two central pillars of India's sugar policy.