India's sugar trade: A Fresh look

Abstract

International sugar trade is of strategic importance to India as it helps in maintain stability in the domestic sugar prices despite the cyclicality in production. Also, the potential for expanding sugar production in India exists and can be fully exploited if adjustments were introduced to ensure a market driven relationship between sugar and sugarcane prices. Higher domestic sugar prices than international sugar prices suggest the significant policy change are needed in India. India is 4th largest exporter of sugar and has the potential and advantage in export of sugar to sugar deficit countries in the Middle East and East Africa. The study also suggests that there is urgent need to divert the export of sugar from existing countries where, the price realization is less to the countries where the price realization is comparatively more.