India Bans Sugar Exports till Sept 2026

On 13th May 2026, India prohibited the export of sugar with immediate effect until 30th September 2026 to ensure adequate domestic availability and maintain food security.

Key Points

Sugar Export Ban: The government amended the export status of sugar from “Restricted” to “Prohibited” with immediate effect.
Categories Covered: The restriction applies to raw sugar, white sugar, and refined sugar under specified ITC (HS) codes.
Issued by DGFT: The notification was issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Exemptions for International Commitments: Exports to the European Union and the United States under CXL and Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) arrangements will continue.
Advance Authorisation Scheme: Shipments under the Advance Authorisation Scheme (AAS) will remain permissible under Foreign Trade Policy 2023 provisions.
Relief for Existing Shipments: Consignments already loaded, filed through shipping bills, or registered with customs before the notification are exempted from the ban.
Port Authority Verification: Export approvals for already berthed or anchored vessels will require confirmation from port authorities.
Food Security Exports Allowed: The government may permit exports to specific countries upon formal requests related to food security needs.
Automatic Reversion Clause: If the prohibition is not extended beyond September 2026, the export policy will automatically revert to the “Restricted” category.