Govt weighs proposal to cut import duty on sugar from 60% to 15%

13 Apr 2011 Evaluate

The government is examining a proposal to bring down import levy on sugar after duties were restored to 60% from the beginning of current financial as a two-year old order allowing free exports lapsed on March 31. The food and consumer affair ministry has proposed a lower 15% import duty in view of the still high food inflation. The proposal is pending before the empowered group of ministers on food prices and till the time a decision is taken the duties will remain at 60%.

In fact, the ministry has still not issued orders for export of five lakh tone of sugar allowed by the EGoM last month. With estimated production of 24.5 million tonnes in the current year expected to be more than domestic demand, the sugar situation in the country has become comfortable. The wholesale prices of sugar were down nearly 8% in February from a year ago. The retail sugar prices too have come down to Rs. 30-32 per kg from about Rs. 50 per kg early last year. This was the primary reason why the EGoM did not extend the duty free notification for imports.

However, high food prices continues to be an issue of concern for the government even as food inflation has come below the two digit level, especially with assembly election in five states lined up. There is not much scope for imports as domestic prices were ruling lower than international prices. Import duty was abolished in early 2009 following a fall in domestic production to 14.7 million tonnes against annual domestic demand of 22 million tonnes. India imported 6 million tonnes of sugar since then.

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