New Delhi: The Centre Thursday imposed a stockholding limit on bulk consumers of sugar, restricting them to stocks equivalent to 15 days’ consumption. Announcing the move, Union Food and Public Distribution Minister Pralhad Joshi said bulk consumers using more than 10 tonnes of sugar a month would not be allowed to hold stocks beyond 15 days’ consumption.
The order will take effect from September 1 and remain in force until November 30. The food ministry has notified the Sugar (Stockholding Limit of Bulk Consumers) Order, 2026, covering confectioners, soft drink manufacturers, food processing units, sweetmeat sellers and other institutional buyers, he said on a social media post.
This follows an earlier order capping stock with sugar dealers at 4,000 quintals for 30 days, effective August 1 to November 30. The curbs come amid a sharp rise in sugar prices, with ex-mill rates hitting record highs on account of lower opening stock ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Retail sugar prices have climbed about 13 per cent year-on year to `52.30 per kg as August 18, as per the official data.