The government on Thursday allowed import of 3 lakh tonnes of raw sugar at concessional duty of 25% to augment domestic supplies ahead of the festive season. It had hiked import duty on sugar in July to 50% from 40% to curb dumping of the commodity in India as international prices fell.

 

“To supplement the availability of sugar in southern India and to stabilise sugar price, import of 3 lakh MT of raw sugar through southern ports of India at 25% import duty under Open General License (Tariff Rate Quota) has been allowed through millers/refiners,” a food ministry statement said.