NEW DELHI – Prices of medium-grade sugar rose by 30 rupees per 100 kg in Mumbai's wholesale market today because of higher demand, and due to restricted movement of stock as a result of heavy rainfall in Maharashtra, traders said.

"The situation is slowly improving and some trucks were being loaded today but at higher charges…Prices rose because of lack of adequate loading and traders have exhausted their stocks as supply was halted for the past three days," said a Bombay Sugar Merchants' Association official.

Kohlapur–the heartland for sugar plantations–is reeling from severe rainfall with several rivers flowing above the danger mark.

Heavy rainfall is expected over Maharashtra even today due to rough conditions in the Arabian Sea, said an India Meteorological Department update.

The weather bureau has also issued 'red alert' for madhya Maharashtra for today.

Prices were unavailable for Kolhapur as markets were shut because of heavy rains in the region.

Meanwhile, sugar prices were steady in Delhi, and Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh because of demand-supply parity.

On ICE Futures US, the most-active October raw sugar contract was last traded at 11.41 cents per pound, up 0.6%. Prices were up as investors covered their short positions after the contract hit a 10-month low of 11.27 cents a pound on Wednesday.

Intl FC Stone has forecast a global sugar deficit by 5.9 mln tn in 2019-20, while the International Sugar Organisation sees a shortfall of 3.5 mln tn this season and 6 mln tn in 2020-21.

"…whilst continued bullish analysis relating to next year is circulating the market, this hasn't really spurred much buying," Sucden Financial said in a report.

Following are today's prices for medium-grade sugar, in rupees per 100 kg, in key wholesale markets, and the change from the previous close: