The divide between the north Indian sugar industry and its counterpart from the coastal states over the export policy for the next sugarseason starting October 1 has grown wide.  

Uttar Pradesh sugar industry has demanded allocation of mill wise export quota; while the sugar mills from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat are gearing up to push for open general licence policy for sugar exports. As the export window for Indian sugar mills has become smaller due to multiple global factors, OGL will help to speed up the exports,
say the coastal millers. 
“Maharashtra accounted for more than 60% of the country's total sugar export of 2021-22. The sugar mills from Uttar Pradesh sugar are interested in just selling their export quota as exports are not feasible for them due to long distance from the ports,” said BB Thombre, president, West Indian Sugar Mills Association (WISMA). 
The Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) had earlier asked for mill-wise Maximum Admissible Export Quota (MAEQ) for 2022-23. “India could achieve record exports due to the OGL policy. We have decided to put our case through the ministers representing Maharashtra,” said Thombare. 
India exported record quantities of sugar in 2021-22 under OGL, which was stopped mid-way to prevent shortages in the domestic market. The industry wants the Centre to announce the export policy for the next season, which will enable the mills to enter into forward export contracts.