New Delhi: The government has notified a hike in sugar import duty to 15 per cent from 10 per cent to help the industry clear Rs 9,000 crore cane arrears to farmers-- a move that would make the sweetener costlier for the common man.
The step has been taken mainly to discourage overseas buying amid a drop in local prices due to ample supplies. The duty increase could add to global sugar stocks and pressure prices further by halting India's sugar imports, which have already slowed to a trickle following a sharp drop in the rupee.
In a notification issued by the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), the duty of both raw and white (refined) sugar have been raised to 15 per cent.
The sugar imports have been putting pressure on domestic prices and have prevented millers from clearing cane arrears to farmers. Currently, millers in Uttar Pradesh are selling sugar to wholesalers at rates lower than even the production cost, according to the industry experts.
The hike in duty is aimed at curbing import of sugar and improving the bearish sentiment in domestic market. This would, however, lead to rise in sugar prices across the country. Currently prices of sugar (loose) is ruling at Rs 40 per kg and packed sugar at Rs 50/kg in Delhi.
Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Food Minister K V Thomas had a meeting on July 4 to review the import duty.
After the meeting Thomas had said there was an agreement to increase the duty to 15 per cent to help industry in clearing outstanding payments to sugarcane farmers, which have risen to Rs 9,000 crore from Rs 5,000 crore in the last one year.
Industry associations like ISMA and NFCSF have been demanding a hike in import duty to 30-40 per cent, saying the country is having surplus sugar production.
(With Additional Inputs from PTI)
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