New Delhi: For the past few weeks, sugar mill delivery prices and spot market rates had been soft, but in the last week of January 2026 (January 24-30), prices improved due to month-end buying. The government has fixed a domestic sales quota of 22.50 lakh tonnes of sugar for February 2026, which is 50,000 tonnes more than the January quota.

During the week under review, sugar mill delivery prices increased by Rs. 40 per quintal in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Rs. 65 in Western Uttar Pradesh, Rs. 70 in Punjab, and Rs. 155 per quintal in Madhya Pradesh. However, in Bihar, mill delivery prices remained stable at Rs. 4145/4311 per quintal, while in Gujarat, they increased by up to Rs. 50 to Rs. 3785/3891 per quintal.

Sugar spot market prices increased by Rs. 55 in Delhi to Rs. 4300/4475 per quintal and improved by Rs. 10-20 in Indore to Rs. 4020/4080 per quintal. However, in Raipur, it remained at the previous level of Rs. 3980/4050 per quintal, and in Kolkata, it stayed at Rs. 4200/4350 per quintal.

In Mumbai (Vashi), the spot price of sugar increased by Rs. 20 to Rs. 3820/4020 per quintal, and the Naka port delivery price also improved by Rs. 20 to Rs. 3770/3970 per quintal. Sugar tender prices in Maharashtra also improved, increasing by up to Rs. 45 to Rs. 3650/3795 per quintal. A mixed trend was observed in Karnataka.

The free sale quota for sugar in Karnataka has been reduced for February, while the quota has been increased in Maharashtra. In these two provinces, the tender price for sugar is significantly below its cost of production, raising concerns about potential financial losses for the mills.  Industrial demand for sugar is expected to improve in February as temperatures rise, which could lead to some price recovery. The minimum ex-factory selling price of sugar has not been increased for five years.