INDIA: 2008/09 imports were at 2.518 million tonnes
Published: 11/20/2009, 2:10:11 PM
India imported 2.518 million metric tonnes of sugar during the 2008/09 season to augment domestic supply, according to the Press Trust of India.
"As per trade sources, the quantity of imported raw and white sugar in the 2008/09 sugar season is 2.293 million tonnes and 225,000 tonnes, respectively," Minister of State for Agriculture, Food and Public Distribution K V Thomas said.
According to official data, sugar prices in retail outlets in most cities have surged over 70% to INR35 (US$0.75)-INR40 a kg now from INR18-INR23 a kg in the same period last year.
India's sugar stocks in October when the current season began were at 2.5 million tonnes, excluding imports, against 10 million tonnes a year ago, Thomas said, according to Reuters.
Stocks of imported raws in the 2009/10 sugar season which began in October were at 1.2 million tonnes.