Imports & ExportsStart exporting

Processed food

Export sugar

Restricted: exported only under quotas the Food Ministry gives to sugar mills each season. Organic sugar has a separate 50,000 MT yearly ceiling.

Restricted — licence neededHS 1701
HS code
1701
Cane or beet sugar: raw sugar (1701 12–14, including khandsari and some jaggery lines) and refined white sugar (1701 91–99).
Export policy
Restricted — licence needed
Restricted "till further orders" (DGFT Notification 36/2023, 18 Oct 2023). The Department of Food and Public Distribution allots export quotas to mills each sugar season; organic sugar (1701 14 90, 1701 99 90) may be exported up to 50,000 MT per financial year under APEDA modalities (Notification 51/2025-26). The 2026-27 season began on 1 October — check DFPD for any new quota.
Registrations
5
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 2.04 bn
to 102 countries

What is exported

India exported sugar worth about US$ 2 billion in 2025-26 (TradeStat), mostly white sugar to East Africa, the Horn of Africa, Sri Lanka and West Asia — Somalia, Sudan, Libya, Djibouti, Sri Lanka, the UAE, Tanzania and Kenya led. Exports are run through mill-wise quotas: 15 lakh tonnes for the 2025-26 season (order of 14 Nov 2025) plus 5 lakh tonnes more in February 2026.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • White sugar (S-30, M-30)Indian plantation white sugar graded by crystal size; the bulk of exports.
  • Refined sugar (ICUMSA 45)From refineries and some mills; for food industry buyers.
  • Raw sugarFor overseas refineries; shipped in bulk.
  • Organic sugarSeparate ceiling of 50,000 MT a year under APEDA modalities.

Where it is grown or made

  • Uttar PradeshWestern UP and Terai mills — the largest producing state with Maharashtra (PIB).
  • MaharashtraKolhapur, Sangli, Solapur, Pune, Ahmednagar — near Mumbai and JNPA ports.
  • KarnatakaBelagavi, Bagalkot, Mandya.

Season

The sugar season runs October–September; quotas are announced season by season, usually after crushing starts.

Export packing

  • 50 kg PP bags with liners in containers or break-bulk vessels; jumbo bags for some buyers.

Who buys abroad

  • Sugar traders and government buyers in East Africa, the Horn of Africa and West Asia
  • Refineries (raw sugar)
  • Beverage and confectionery makers in Sri Lanka and the Gulf

The quality buyers ask for

Colour (ICUMSA)
ICUMSA 45 for refined; higher ICUMSA values for plantation white and raw sugar, as contracted
Polarisation and moisture
Minimum polarisation and maximum moisture set in the contract
Grain size
Indian grades S-30 (small) and M-30 (medium)

Certificates

  • APEDA RCMCRequiredRegistration with APEDA, issued as an RCMC on the DGFT portal; not needed for consignments up to ₹3 lakh FOB since 15 Sep 2026.
  • FSSAI licenceRequiredCentral licence from FSSAI for the premises where food is packed or stored for export.
  • DFPD export quotaRequiredMill-wise export quota for the sugar season, under the Sugar (Control) Order.
  • HalalOften askedAsked for by many Gulf, Malaysian and Indonesian buyers of processed foods; use a body the destination recognises.
  • ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000Often askedFood-safety management certification; FSSC 22000 is GFSI-recognised and asked for by large buyers.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

A 20-ft container typically carries about 25–26 tonnes in 50 kg bags; large lots go break-bulk.

How it travels

Sea freight from Kandla, JNPA, Mumbai, Kakinada and Haldia; road to Nepal.

Storage

Dry godowns; keep bags off the floor and away from humidity to prevent caking.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Bulk bags and cartons: product and grade, crop year, lot number, net and gross weight, "Product of India", exporter name and the buyer’s shipping marks, matching the invoice and packing list exactly.
  • Gulf countries: Arabic text (Arabic plus English is normal), production and expiry dates, net weight, country of origin and importer details. Confirm current rules with your importer.
Where to get it tested

Search the NABL directory (nabl-india.org) for a laboratory accredited for the exact tests in your contract, or use an independent inspection agency the buyer names; keep the certificate of analysis with each batch number.

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • APEDARegistration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) for APEDA-scheduled products. Apply on the DGFT portal after you have your IEC.dgft.gov.in ↗
  • FSSAIFood business licence. FSSAI puts food exporters under the Central licence; apply on FoSCoS for the premises you pack from.foscos.fssai.gov.in ↗
  • DFPD (Food Ministry)Export quota under the Sugar (Control) Order. Quotas go to sugar mills; a merchant exporter buys quota sugar from a mill and ships on the mill’s allocation.dfpd.gov.in ↗

Quality and checks

  • Grade by ICUMSA colour (e.g. ICUMSA 45 refined, higher numbers for plantation white and raw), polarisation, moisture and grain size (Indian S-30, M-30 grades).
  • Sulphur dioxide content matters for sulphitation sugar; some buyers specify a maximum.
  • Independent pre-shipment inspection of quality, weight and bag condition is standard.
How to start small

A newcomer cannot export sugar without a mill’s quota. Partner with a mill that has unused allocation, or start with organic sugar through APEDA’s ceiling. Confirm quota status on dfpd.gov.in before quoting any buyer. Since 15 September 2026, a consignment worth up to ₹3 lakh FOB does not need an RCMC (DGFT Notification 36/2026-27); registrations required by a law still apply.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Quoting buyers before a quota is in hand — the quota window can close or be reallocated.
  • Fake "ICUMSA 45 from India" offers circulate widely online; verify the mill and its quota.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (5)
  1. DGFT Notification 51/2025-26 (29 Dec 2025) — export of 50,000 MT of organic sugar per financial year
  2. DFPD — Allocation of sugar export quota for sugar season 2025-26
  3. PIB — Government approves wheat exports and allows additional wheat product and sugar exports (13 Feb 2026)
  4. PIB — India’s Sugar Industry (factsheet, Aug 2026)
  5. Department of Commerce — TradeStat, India’s exports by commodity and country (2025-26)

Trade data

Indian sugar exports in numbers

From the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, Indian financial years (April–March).

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 2.04 bn
-6% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↓ -3.5%
US$ 2.12 bn → US$ 2.04 bn
Buyer countries
102
Average export price
US$ 0.49
per kg · 4.18 mn tonnes shipped · US$ 0.58 the year before
Sudan: US$ 261 mnDjibouti: US$ 219 mnSri Lanka: US$ 159 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 134 mnTanzania: US$ 132 mnKenya: US$ 117 mnBangladesh: US$ 105 mnYemen: US$ 76.1 mnIran: US$ 47.8 mnMalaysia: US$ 31.4 mnNepal: US$ 26.6 mnSouth Africa: US$ 23.9 mnQatar: US$ 19.8 mnSingapore: US$ 17.7 mnOman: US$ 12.7 mnUnited States of America: US$ 12 mnChina: US$ 10.2 mnKuwait: US$ 9.6 mnCanada: US$ 9.2 mnMaldives: US$ 6.2 mnSudan: US$ 261 mnSudanDjibouti: US$ 219 mnDjiboutiSri Lanka: US$ 159 mnSri LankaUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 134 mnUnited Arab EmiratesTanzania: US$ 132 mnTanzaniaKenya: US$ 117 mnBangladesh: US$ 105 mnBangladeshYemen: US$ 76.1 mnIran: US$ 47.8 mnMalaysia: US$ 31.4 mnNepal: US$ 26.6 mnSouth Africa: US$ 23.9 mnQatar: US$ 19.8 mnSingapore: US$ 17.7 mnOman: US$ 12.7 mnUnited States of America: US$ 12 mnChina: US$ 10.2 mnKuwait: US$ 9.6 mnCanada: US$ 9.2 mnMaldives: US$ 6.2 mnIndia
Where Indian sugar goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 2.78 bn2.8k2020-212021-22: US$ 4.58 bn4.6k2021-222022-23: US$ 5.74 bn5.7k2022-232023-24: US$ 2.77 bn2.8k2023-242024-25: US$ 2.12 bn2.1k2024-252025-26: US$ 2.04 bn2.0k2025-26
India’s sugar exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2024-25, lowest in 2020-21 — a 57% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 0.37 per kg0.372021-22: US$ 0.44 per kg2022-23: US$ 0.49 per kg2024-25: US$ 0.58 per kg0.582025-26: US$ 0.49 per kg0.492020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian sugar · US$ per kg · dotted = year in between not available

What next: a projection from the trend

The past trend carried forward — not a forecast by any authority. Sudden changes in policy, prices or demand are not in it.

2020-21: US$ 2.78 bn2020-212021-22: US$ 4.58 bn2021-222022-23: US$ 5.74 bn2022-232023-24: US$ 2.77 bn2023-242024-25: US$ 2.12 bn2024-252025-26: US$ 2.04 bn2025-262026-27: US$ 1.96 bn (US$ 1.16 bn – US$ 3.29 bn)2.0k2026-272027-28: US$ 1.72 bn (US$ 962 mn – US$ 3.06 bn)1.7k2027-28
India’s sugar exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 1.72 bn

Likely range US$ 962 mn to US$ 3.06 bn.

Trend
-12.3% a year
Fit (R²)
0.34 — weak, read with care
Based on
6 years of official figures

Method: a straight line through the logarithm of yearly exports (log-linear regression); range = ±1 standard error.

Biggest buyer countries

By value in 2025-26. Change is against 2024-25.

Name2025-26Change
1SomaliaUS$ 268 mn+16.4%
2SudanUS$ 261 mn-1.9%
3LibyaUS$ 222 mn-8.2%
4DjiboutiUS$ 219 mn+61.7%
5Sri LankaUS$ 159 mn-22%
6United Arab EmiratesUS$ 134 mn+135.6%
7TanzaniaUS$ 132 mn-1.9%
8KenyaUS$ 117 mn+71.5%
9BangladeshUS$ 105 mn+0.5%
10YemenUS$ 76.1 mn+7.7%
11IranUS$ 47.8 mn+228.4%
12MalaysiaUS$ 31.4 mn-53.6%

Where demand is rising and falling

Only countries that buy at least US$ 1 million or 1% of India’s exports of this product. Change from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

High demand

  1. South AfricaUS$ 3.1 mn → US$ 23.9 mn+672.8%
  2. IranUS$ 14.6 mn → US$ 47.8 mn+228.4%
  3. United Arab EmiratesUS$ 57 mn → US$ 134 mn+135.6%
  4. KenyaUS$ 68.4 mn → US$ 117 mn+71.5%
  5. DjiboutiUS$ 136 mn → US$ 219 mn+61.7%
  6. NepalUS$ 21.1 mn → US$ 26.6 mn+26.1%
  7. SomaliaUS$ 230 mn → US$ 268 mn+16.4%

Low demand

  1. ThailandUS$ 38.9 mn → US$ 470k-98.8%
  2. Pakistan IrUS$ 121 mn → US$ 8.8 mn-92.7%
  3. ChinaUS$ 38 mn → US$ 10.2 mn-73.2%
  4. MalaysiaUS$ 67.6 mn → US$ 31.4 mn-53.6%
  5. LebanonUS$ 57 mn → US$ 29.2 mn-48.7%
  6. United States of AmericaUS$ 22.4 mn → US$ 12 mn-46.3%
  7. QatarUS$ 26.8 mn → US$ 19.8 mn-26%
  8. Sri LankaUS$ 204 mn → US$ 159 mn-22%

Which forms sell, and at what price

India’s exports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity (TradeStat): the average of every shipment on that line, not the price of any one deal.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Other refnd sugar includingudng centrifugal sugr1701 99 90 · Sugars, sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matterUS$ 1.53 bn-5.4%3.14 mn tonnesUS$ 0.49 per kgwas US$ 0.59
Other cane sugar excluding those specified in note 21701 14 90 · Sugars, cane sugar, raw, in solid form, other than as specified in Subheading Note 2 to this chapter, not…US$ 454 mn+33%9,50,194 tonnesUS$ 0.48 per kgwas US$ 0.56
Sugars, cane sugar, raw, in solid form, other than as specified in Subheading Note 2 to this chapter, not… — cane jaggery1701 14 10US$ 24.2 mn-6.4%31,529 tonnesUS$ 0.77 per kgwas US$ 0.71
Sugars, cane sugar, raw, in solid form, as specified in Subheading Note 2 to this chapter, not containing… — cane jaggery1701 13 10US$ 20.2 mn-3.9%28,605 tonnesUS$ 0.71 per kgwas US$ 0.76
Sugr refind contng flvrng or clrng matter1701 91 00 · Sugars, sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, containing added flavouring or colouring matterUS$ 6.1 mn+47.7%10,656 tonnesUS$ 0.57 per kgwas US$ 0.61
Sugars, cane sugar, raw, in solid form, other than as specified in Subheading Note 2 to this chapter, not… — khandsari sugar1701 14 20US$ 4.1 mn-94.2%7,819 tonnesUS$ 0.52 per kgwas US$ 0.56
Sugars, sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter — sugar cubes1701 99 10US$ 3.2 mn-42.9%4,986 tonnesUS$ 0.65 per kgwas US$ 0.81
Sugars, cane sugar, raw, in solid form, as specified in Subheading Note 2 to this chapter, not containing… — khandsari sugar1701 13 20US$ 2.7 mn-86.4%4,742 tonnesUS$ 0.57 per kgwas US$ 0.54
Other cane sugar specified in note 21701 13 90 · Sugars, cane sugar, raw, in solid form, as specified in Subheading Note 2 to this chapter, not containing…US$ 1.6 mn-89.4%2,029 tonnesUS$ 0.76 per kgwas US$ 0.62
Beet sugr raw not contng flvrng/colrng matr1701 12 00 · Sugars, beet sugar, raw, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matterUS$ 180k+20%134 tonnesUS$ 1.35 per kgwas US$ 0.96

The world market

Each country’s own recorded exports and imports in UN Comtrade, 2023 (the latest year nearly every country has reported).

World imports
US$ 36.8 bn
2023
India among exporters
#2
of 149 countries
India’s share of world exports
9.9%
US$ 3.72 bn
Left for others to win
US$ 33.9 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1BrazilUS$ 15.8 bn 41.8%
  2. 2IndiaUS$ 3.72 bn 9.9%
  3. 3ThailandUS$ 3.49 bn 9.3%
  4. 4FranceUS$ 1.35 bn 3.6%
  5. 5GermanyUS$ 955 mn 2.5%
  6. 6MexicoUS$ 682 mn 1.8%
  7. 7NetherlandsUS$ 620 mn 1.6%
  8. 8PolandUS$ 608 mn 1.6%
  9. 9GuatemalaUS$ 599 mn 1.6%
  10. 10United Arab EmiratesUS$ 585 mn 1.6%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1IndonesiaUS$ 2.88 bn 7.8%
  2. 2USAUS$ 2.48 bn 6.7%
  3. 3ChinaUS$ 2.31 bn 6.3%
  4. 4ItalyUS$ 1.44 bn 3.9%
  5. 5IndiaUS$ 1.37 bn 3.7%
  6. 6SpainUS$ 1.3 bn 3.5%
  7. 7MalaysiaUS$ 1.2 bn 3.3%
  8. 8NigeriaUS$ 1.05 bn 2.9%
  9. 9Saudi ArabiaUS$ 1.05 bn 2.8%
  10. 10Rep. of KoreaUS$ 1.03 bn 2.8%

Opportunity: what these countries buy from the world, and from India

Each country’s own recorded imports in UN Comtrade, latest year it has reported. The long light part of each bar is demand other countries are filling today.

IndonesiaUS$ 3.03 bnIndia 0.6% · gap US$ 3.01 bn
United States of AmericaUS$ 2.65 bnIndia 0.4% · gap US$ 2.64 bn
ChinaUS$ 2.39 bnIndia 0.5% · gap US$ 2.38 bn
MalaysiaUS$ 1.36 bnIndia 4.5% · gap US$ 1.3 bn
Saudi ArabiaUS$ 1.25 bnIndia 1.1% · gap US$ 1.23 bn
ItalyUS$ 1.23 bnIndia 0.2% · gap US$ 1.22 bn
EgyptUS$ 1 bnIndia 0% · gap US$ 1 bn
South KoreaUS$ 966 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 966 mn
CanadaUS$ 914 mnIndia 1.3% · gap US$ 902 mn
SpainUS$ 839 mnIndia 0.1% · gap US$ 838 mn

TradeStat’s 2023-24 quantities are double-counted, so that year is left out of the price. Sources: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · UN Comtrade database (United Nations Statistics Division) · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

Step by step

How to export sugar

India is one of the world’s two largest sugar producers with Brazil, and becomes a major exporter in surplus years. Since June 2022 exports have been Restricted and run through season-wise quotas, balanced against domestic needs and ethanol diversion. In 2025-26 India allowed 15 lakh tonnes plus 5 lakh tonnes more; PIB reports 8 lakh tonnes exported that year. Brazil and Thailand are the main competitors; India’s natural markets are East Africa, Sri Lanka and West Asia.

  1. 01Check the season’s quota

    Read the DFPD order for the current sugar season; nothing moves without a mill’s quota (or the organic sugar ceiling).

  2. 02Tie up with a mill

    Agree purchase of quota sugar with a mill; confirm grade, packing and delivery to port.

  3. 03Register

    Get your IEC and APEDA RCMC; for organic sugar, follow APEDA’s modalities.

  4. 04Inspect and load

    Independent inspection of quality and weight at loading.

  5. 05Agree specification, price and payment

    Put grade, tests, packing, Incoterm (FOB or CIF), shipment period and payment (advance, LC or documents against payment) in a written contract. Cover the buyer with ECGC if you give credit.

  6. 06File the shipping bill and ship

    Your customs broker files the shipping bill on ICEGATE with the invoice and packing list. After customs clearance the line issues the bill of lading; get the certificate of origin from the right agency if the buyer needs a trade-agreement rate.

  7. 07Get paid and close the file

    Send original documents through your bank (or to the buyer if paid in advance). When the money arrives, get the e-BRC and claim RoDTEP and drawback where they apply.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting sugar

Can a trader export sugar?
Only against a mill’s allocated quota (or within the organic sugar ceiling); quotas are given to mills, not traders.
How much sugar was allowed in 2025-26?
15 lakh tonnes (order of 14 Nov 2025) plus an additional 5 lakh tonnes announced on 13 Feb 2026.
What about the 2026-27 season?
We could not confirm a 2026-27 quota as of 1 Nov 2026; check dfpd.gov.in and PIB.
Is organic sugar treated differently?
Yes — up to 50,000 MT per financial year may be exported under APEDA modalities (DGFT Notification 51/2025-26).
How do I spot fake sugar offers?
Ask which mill and quota the sugar comes from and verify with the mill; avoid sellers asking for upfront fees.
Sources (5)
  1. DFPD — Allocation of sugar export quota for sugar season 2025-26
  2. PIB — Government approves wheat exports and allows additional wheat product and sugar exports (13 Feb 2026)
  3. PIB — India’s Sugar Industry (factsheet, Aug 2026)
  4. DGFT Notification 51/2025-26 (29 Dec 2025) — export of 50,000 MT of organic sugar per financial year
  5. Department of Commerce — TradeStat, India’s exports by commodity and country (2025-26)

Who buys Indian sugar

All countries →

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