India’s sugar exports witnessed an astounding growth of 291 per cent from USD 1,177 million in FY 2013-14 to USD 4600 million in FY 2021-22. As per DGCIS (Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics) data, India exported sugar to 121 countries across the globe.
Sugar export jumped 65 per cent in 2021-22 corresponding to the previous year. The growth was achieved despite logistical challenges posed by Covid-19 pandemic in the form of high freight rates and container shortages.
Highlighting the historic achievement in a tweet, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Piyush Goyal said that Modi government’s policies were helping farmers increase their income by tapping global markets.
According to the DGCIS data, India had exported sugar worth of USD 1965 million in 2019-20, which rose to USD 2790 million in 2020-21 and USD 4600 million in 2021-22.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, in 2021-22 (April-February), India has exported sugar worth of USD 769 million to Indonesia, followed by Bangladesh (USD 561 million), Sudan (USD 530 million) and UAE (USD 270 million). India also exported sugar to Somalia, Saudi Arab, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Nepal, China among other countries. Indian sweetener has also been imported by USA, Singapore, Oman, Qatar, Turkey, Iran, Syria, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Germany, France, New Zealand, Denmark, Israel, Russia, Egypt among various other countries.
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Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka account for nearly 80 per cent of the total sugar production in the country. The other major sugarcane-producing states are Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Haryana and Punjab.
Notably, India is the world’s second-largest sugar producer after Brazil. Since 2010-11, India has consistently produced surplus sugar, comfortably exceeding the domestic requirements. The record exports would enable the sugar producers to reduce their stocks and would also benefit the sugarcane farmers, as the increased demand for Indian sugar is likely to improve their realisations.
Sugar Export (Value in USD Million)
| Product | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 |
| Sugar | 1965 | 2791 | 4600 |
According to the ministry, even after record exports, the closing stocks at the end of sugar season 2021-22 (October – September) would be at a comfortable level of 73 lakh tonnes. The Government will continue to take all possible steps to maintain this upward trend in sugar exports.
