The Centre imposed a stockholding limit on bulk consumers of sugar, amid concerns over rising prices due to tight supplies ahead of the festival season.
Food Minister Pralhad Joshi, in a social media, announced that bulk consumers using more than 10 tonnes of sugar a month will not be allowed to hold stock beyond what they would consume in 15 days.
The food ministry has notified the Sugar (Stockholding Limit of Bulk Consumers) Order, 2026, which covers confectioners, soft drink manufacturers, food processing units, sweetmeat sellers and other institutional buyers, he said on a social media post.
The order comes into force from September 1 and will remain in effect till November 30.
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 Rs 52.30 per kg as on August 18, as per the official data.
