Sugar Exports Expected to Reach 1.5 Million Tonnes in Current Season

25-Mar-2026 07:59 PM

Mumbai. A leading trade analyst believes that during the current marketing season of 2025-26 (October–September), India's total sugar exports could rise to reach 1.5 million tonnes. According to the analyst, following the conclusion of the conflict between Iran and Israel, the demand for Indian sugar is likely to surge rapidly in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, as well as other countries across the Middle East and the Gulf region. Currently, the ongoing conflict is posing operational challenges.

It is noteworthy that for the 2025-26 season, the government had initially authorized millers to export 1.5 million tonnes of sugar; subsequently, in February 2026, this quota was further increased by 0.5 million tonnes. Consequently, the industry has received approval to export a total of 2 million tonnes of sugar, and the processes for finalizing contracts and executing shipments are currently underway.

Countries such as Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Djibouti, and Somalia are demonstrating significant interest in procuring Indian sugar for April–May shipments.

The logistical challenge regarding Afghanistan is that it lacks its own seaports; therefore, sugar exported from India must first arrive at an Iranian port before being transported onward to Afghanistan via road.

However, due to Iran's involvement in an intense conflict with Israel—backed by the U.S.—operations at Iranian ports are not functioning at full capacity, leading to a shortage of available space.