India has exported 201,547 tonnes of sugar through February in the 2025-26 marketing year, according to the All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA). The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as the leading buyer, importing 47,006 tones, followed closely by Afghanistan, Djibouti, and Bhutan.
Of the total shipments, white sugar comprised 163,000 tonnes, while refined sugar accounted for 37,638 tonnes. This trade activity comes as the government recently increased the total export quota to 2 million tonnes, adding a 500,000-tonne allocation for willing mills.
AISTA Chairman Praful Vithalani highlighted that the new two-tier system prevents mills from paying high premiums on tradable quotas, ensuring “genuine exporting mills” can operate more efficiently. Meanwhile, domestic production is looking sweet; AISTA estimates a 13% rise in output to 29.6 million tonnes for the current year. This surplus supports the government’s calibrated export strategy while maintaining stable domestic supply.
