New Delhi, Delhi
Amid rising sugar prices in the country, concerns are now growing over the available stock of sugar. Prakash Naiknavare, Managing Director of the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories (NFCSF), has urged the government to make the actual sugar stock position public. According to him, the stock available in the country could fall to around 3.5 million tonnes by the end of the current sugar season.
The current sugar season is scheduled to end on September 30. According to the NFCSF Managing Director, if the stock stands at around 3.5 million tonnes by that date, it may not be sufficient to meet domestic demand during the first two months of the new season, October and November. This could increase pressure on sugar availability at the beginning of the new season.
Demand for 15-Day Physical Verification
Prakash Naiknavare has urged the government to conduct physical verification of the existing sugar stock for 15 days. He said that after verifying the actual stock, the government should make public the figures for both available and estimated quantities.
Releasing accurate stock data could help reduce uncertainty in the market. At present, different estimates regarding available sugar stocks are emerging, creating confusion about future supply.
Rising Prices Add to Concerns
The recent rise in sugar prices has made the stock issue even more significant. There are concerns in the market that if the actual stock is lower than expected, pressure on sugar supplies could increase in the coming months.
There is also discussion about the possibility of overselling. In such a situation, accurate government data on the actual availability of sugar becomes extremely important for the market.
Meeting Domestic Demand Remains a Government Priority
Sugar is an important commodity for domestic consumption. Therefore, the government continuously monitors its availability and prices and has already taken several measures to ensure adequate domestic supplies.
However, the NFCSF has now urged the government to first clarify the actual stock position in the country. This would help determine how much sugar will be available at the beginning of the new season and whether additional supplies may be required in the coming months.
October-November Could Be Challenging
The new sugar season will begin after September 30. October and November will be particularly important because the industry will have to maintain a balance between the remaining stocks from the old season and the sugar produced during the new season.
If the stock actually falls to around 3.5 million tonnes by September 30, meeting domestic demand during the first two months of the new season could become challenging. In such a scenario, supply management, market monitoring and government policy decisions will play an important role.
The NFCSF has emphasized that decisions should be based on actual figures rather than estimates. For this reason, it has demanded a 15-day physical verification of sugar stocks and the subsequent publication of the findings.
Government’s Next Move in Focus
The NFCSF’s demand comes at a time when rising sugar prices and concerns over future supplies have intensified market discussions. If the government makes the actual stock figures public, it could help both the sugar industry and the market better understand the supply situation in the coming months.
For now, the estimated stock of 3.5 million tonnes by September 30 remains a major concern. Whether sufficient sugar will be available to meet domestic demand in October and November will depend on the final stock position at the end of the current season and the supply generated during the new season.
The sugar industry will therefore be closely watching the government’s next steps regarding physical verification of stocks and the publication of actual stock data.
