Why is sugar industry unhappy with mill-gate floor price of Rs 29 a kilo? (2024)

A day before the Central Government approved a Rs 7,000 crore sugar package to help domestic sugar mills tide over their liquidity crisis, Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), the apex industry lobby group, had made a written submission to Ram Vilas Paswan, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. The objective was to convince the ministry that the net cost of sugar production would work out to be Rs 3484 to Rs 3559 a quintal. The industry wanted to convey in clear terms that any minimum ex-mill price which is lower than that, will not sustain or enable the mills to pay the fair and remunerative price (FRP) to the sugarcane farmer.

The government decision, to fix the price at Rs 29 a kilo (instead of Rs 35 a kilo) was thus a dampener.

While it is not clear how the government did its maths, industry vouches for the rationality of its calculation. It says that the minimum cost of production of one quintal of sugar - if one considers Rs 290 as the cost of a quintal sugarcane (FRP) at an all India average sugar recovery (from sugar cane) rate of 10.8 per cent - will be Rs 2759. Add to it a cash conversion cost which includes power, chemicals, consumables, wages, packaging, maintenance, overheads etc, minus the earnings from by-products of Rs 550-600 per quintal, an another Rs 175-200 per quintal as interest on working capital and term loan, the net cost of sugar production will be approximately Rs 3559 a quintal.

This is why the industry remains disappointed as instead of an ex-mill price of Rs 34-35 for a kilo of sugar, the government offered Rs 29 a kilo.

In fact, the representation also carried another set of calculation, based on the formula suggested in the Rangarajan Committee report on sugar industry some years ago. According to that calculation, which is followed by the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka, the sugar mills should have got a minimum price of Rs 35.8 per kilo of sugar to pay out an FRP of Rs 290 per quintal of sugarcane.

The industry had even kept the finance ministry, and the ministry of shipping, road transport and highways, water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation in the loop.

The only silver lining in the cabinet decision is that it has kept Rs 29 a kilo as an introductory price, stating that it can undergo revision on the basis of a revised FRP. When or whether it will happen is a question that remains unanswered at the moment.

Why is sugar industry unhappy with mill-gate floor price of Rs 29 a kilo? (2024)

FAQs

Why is the price of sugar so low? ›

Sugar is cheap because there are two plants that contain lots of it – sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum) and sugar beet (Beta vulgaris). Harvesting them and extracting their sugar were made efficient by the technology of the industrial revolution, notably the steam engine and the multiple-effect evaporator.

What are the most common challenges faced by the sugar industry? ›

The sugar price for consumers, however, is not regulated which makes sugar manufacturers vulnerable. In addition to stagnating production, price regulations and the unstable sugarcane market there is also an increasing lack of water. This affects sugarcane farming areas as sugarcane is high in irrigated water use.

Why did the sugar industry fail? ›

Abandonment of plantations, share cropping, and bankruptcy became a thing of the day in the second half of the nineteenth century which caused the industry to decline.

What is the cost unit of a sugar industry can be? ›

Solution: Cost unit of a sugar industry can be per tonne. A cost unit refers to the unit of quantity of product, service or time (or combination of these) in relation to which costs may be ascertained or expressed.

What is the price floor on sugar? ›

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India on Thursday raised the floor price for refined sugar at the mill gate to 31 rupees a kilogram, up from 29 rupees, a government order said, to help prop up retail prices in the world's biggest consumer of the sweetener.

Is there a price floor on sugar? ›

When a loan falls due, a farmer must repay it, plus interest—unless the price of sugar falls under 18 cents per pound. If that happens, the farmer can repay the loan, at the rate of 18 cents per pound, by turning sugar over to the Department of Agriculture.

What are 3 factors that affected the sugar industry? ›

They are sugarcane production, fertilization, irrigation, rainfall, the yield of sugar cane, and land area.

What are the factors affecting sugar manufacturing? ›

Results show that labour costs, drought stress, lack of finance, and high transaction costs are the major limiting constraints in sugarcane production. Empirical results reveal that variable input costs affect the sugarcane production of smallholder farmers.

What are the problems with sugar production? ›

Sugar mills produce wastewater, emissions and solid waste that impact the environment. The massive quantities of plant matter and sludge washed from mills decompose in freshwater bodies, absorbing all the available oxygen and leading to massive fish kills.

When was the sugar shortage in the US? ›

Sugar was in shorter supply than most other foods in the United States throughout nearly all of World War II. It was the first food to be rationed after the outbreak of war and the only one not removed from ration control before 1946.

How did the Big Five affect sugar industry? ›

Increased capital resulted in increased production. Five kingdom-era corporations benefited from annexation, becoming multimillion-dollar conglomerations that controlled 90% of the sugar business. The companies colluded to keep the prices on their goods and services high. Their profits skyrocketed even more.

Is sugar consumption declining? ›

The percentage of Americans who were heavy consumers of sugar-sweetened beverages—those who drank more than 500 calories' worth every day—dropped significantly from 2003 to 2016, according to a new study led by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

What is the profit margin in a sugar factory? ›

In general, the profit margin for a sugar mill business ranges between 10% to 20% of the revenue generated. However, several factors can impact the profit margin in either direction. A sugar mill in a location that has easy access to sugarcane plantations can have a higher profit margin due to reduced logistics cost.

Is sugar production expensive? ›

Indian sugar cost of production is higher than other major exporters due to high cane price. The government sets a minimum cane price (FRP) which is set artificially high to protect farmer's incomes.

How much sugar is produced per acre? ›

United States production of sugarcane for sugar and seed in 2021 is forecast at 33.5 million net tons, down 7 percent from 2020. Expected yield for sugar and seed is forecast at 35.9 net tons per acre, down 0.7 net ton from the November 1 forecast and down 2.2 net tons from the previous year.

How much is a kilo of sugar in USA? ›

0.57 USD

Why is sugar so expensive now? ›

Higher costs for labor, manufacturing, shipping, warehousing and energy, along with disruptions to the supply chain, have taken a toll on prices.

How much does 1kg sugar cost? ›

BB Popular Sugar/Sakkare, 1 kg
MRP:Rs 55
Price:Rs 46
You Save:16%
(Inclusive of all taxes)

What is one effect of a price floor? ›

Price floors prevent a price from falling below a certain level. When a price floor is set above the equilibrium price, quantity supplied will exceed quantity demanded, and excess supply or surpluses will result.

Who is the largest purchaser of sugar? ›

Coca-Cola is the world's biggest buyer of sugar and sells 25 percent of the world's soft drinks. PepsiCo sells 18 percent of all soft drinks worldwide.

Who sells the most sugar? ›

Sugar: exports of major countries 2021/2022

Brazil has the highest export volume of sugar of any country, at about 25.65 million metric tons as of 2021/2022. The second largest sugar exporter, Thailand, had significantly less export volume compared to Brazil, at about ten million metric tons of sugar that year.

What is the byproduct of sugar industry? ›

The four main byproducts of the sugarcane industry are cane tops, bagasse, filter muds and molasses (Figure 1).

What are the raw materials for sugar industry? ›

Raw materials: cane sugar, beet sugar, and high fructose corn syrup. Cane sugar is processed into raw sugar by a sequence of operations: harvesting, cutting, crushing, extraction of juice, clarification, evaporation, crystallization, centrifugation and refining.

What are the factors affecting sugar quality? ›

Management factors affecting sugarcane quality are identified as: the mixing of over-ripe and juvenile canes with sound, mature canes within a field; harvesting over-age cane; excessive delays between preharvest burning and processing ("kill to mill"); and excessive extraneous matter in harvested cane.

What is the main process in sugar industry? ›

Cane sugar processing consists of the following steps: sugar cane is crushed, the juice is heated and filtered, then sent to a series of crystallisation steps to create crystals of raw sugar, followed by centrifugation to remove any remaining juice or syrup.

Why do manufacturers use too much sugar? ›

There are many reasons why manufacturers use sugar in processed foods - the perception that sugar is the 'gold standard' for sweetness, its functional properties in manufactured foods such as bulking, competition from other brands and retailers and the desire to give consumers a choice of foods.

How much is too much sugar? ›

How much is too much? According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, people older than 2 years should keep sugars to less than 10% of their total daily calories [30.6MB]. For example, if an adult consumes 2,000 calories a day, no more than 200 calories should come from added sugars.

Where does the US get most of its sugar from? ›

Unlike most other producing countries, the United States has both large and well-developed sugarcane and sugarbeet industries. Since the mid-2000s, sugarcane has accounted for between 40 and 45 percent of the total sugar produced domestically, and sugarbeets accounted for between 55 and 60 percent of production.

Is the US the world's biggest producer of sugar? ›

The largest sugar-producing countries are Brazil, India, Thailand, China, and the United States.

Is the US the world's biggest producer of sugar today? ›

Sugar Cane Production in the U.S. from 2010 to 2020

Between 2019 and 2020, the United States produced approximately 7.28 million metric tons of sugar. Compared to Brazil, the worldwide leader in sugarcane production, who produced 752.9 million metric tons of sugar cane, making up more than 34% of the global output.

What company uses 5% of the worlds sugar? ›

The co-op has expanded its operations and become one of the world's biggest private exporters. Today it has about 5 percent of the world sugar trade and, with its new legal status, will displace Cosan CSAN3.SA as the largest sugar and ethanol producing company in Brazil.

Why did Hawaii stop producing sugar? ›

Then Hawaii's land values began to spike as the introduction of passenger jets reduced travel times to Hawaii and launched a tourism boom. Many landowners found they could make more money building hotels and homes than growing cane.

Did sugar companies paid off scientists? ›

50 Years Ago, Sugar Industry Quietly Paid Scientists To Point Blame At Fat : The Two-Way Documents show that in the '60s, the sugar industry funded Harvard researchers who, examining risk factors of heart disease, dismissed concerns about sugar and doubled down on the dangers of fat.

Why is drinking sugar worse than eating sugar? ›

Liquid sugar is different than solid sugar

A major problem with liquid sugar calories is that your brain doesn't register them like it does the calories from solid food. Studies show that drinking calories doesn't elicit the same fullness signals as eating them.

Do people who eat less sugar live longer? ›

You may live longer

In a 2014 study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, those who ate the most added sugar were most likely to die from heart disease than their counterparts who consumed the least.

Does America have a sugar problem? ›

Americans are eating and drinking too many added sugars, which can contribute to health problems such as weight gain and obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. To live healthier, longer lives, most Americans need to move more and eat better, including consuming fewer added sugars.

What is a high profit margin for an industry? ›

An NYU report on U.S. margins revealed the average net profit margin is 7.71% across different industries. But that doesn't mean your ideal profit margin will align with this number. As a rule of thumb, 5% is a low margin, 10% is a healthy margin, and 20% is a high margin.

What is profit margin of a farm? ›

The operating profit margin ratio is computed by adding interest expense and subtracting operator and family labor from net farm income, and dividing the result by value of farm production. Net farm income, interest expense, and value of farm production can be obtained from the farm's income statement.

How much does it cost to franchise a sugar factory? ›

What Does a Sweet Factory Franchise Cost? To buy a franchise with Sweet Factory, you'll need to have at least liquid capital of $100,000- $400,000 and a minimum net worth of $400,000. Franchisees can expect to make a total investment of $100,000 - $1,500,000.

Why did sugar become so cheap? ›

Sugar is cheap because there are two plants that contain lots of it – sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum) and sugar beet (Beta vulgaris). Harvesting them and extracting their sugar were made efficient by the technology of the industrial revolution, notably the steam engine and the multiple-effect evaporator.

What is the most expensive sugar in the world? ›

But this sweet nectar doesn't come cheap. In Colombia, depending on where it is made, panela can cost up to 17,000 pesos per kilogram. In the US, it can cost 20 times more than white sugar. So, how is wild panela made?

When did sugar become cheaper? ›

Known worldwide by the end of the medieval period, sugar was very expensive and was considered a "fine spice", but from about the year 1500, technological improvements and New World sources began turning it into a much cheaper bulk commodity.

What is the largest sugar company in the United States? ›

U.S. Sugar Corporation is a privately owned agricultural business based in Clewiston, Florida. The company farms over 230,000 acres of land in the counties of Hendry, Glades, Martin, and Palm Beach. It is the largest producer of sugarcane in the United States by volume, producing over 700,000 tonnes per year.

What 5 states produce most sugar? ›

Sugar cane is a grass native to Asia and grows mostly in tropical and subtropical areas. In terms of the U.S. sugar cane production by state, it is mainly concentrated in the federal states of Florida, Louisiana, Texas and Hawaii.

How much sugar does the U.S. import? ›

Sugar imports to the U.S. 2010/11-2022/23

This statistic shows the raw value of sugar imports to the United States from 2010/2011 to 2021/2022, with a forecast for 2022/2023. In 2021/22, the United States sugar imports reached approximately 3.14 million metric tons.

Why is sugar sugar falling? ›

Earlier this week on 10 May, most sugar stocks saw a huge fall. The reason behind this was the probable cap on sugar exports. On 25 March, it was reported that the government might introduce a cap of 8 m tonnes on sugar exports.

What moves the price of sugar? ›

The price of sugar is moved by several factors that affect supply and demand. Essentially, if more people want to buy sugar than sell it, the price will rise because it is more sought-after (the 'demand' outstrips the 'supply'). On the other hand, if supply is greater than demand, the price will fall.

How much was sugar in 1920? ›

The price of sugar nearly tripled to almost 21¢/lb in May of 1920, before crashing to just over 5¢ by the end of the year. As the sugar price went sky-high, so did Cuban property values. American firms invested millions in production on the island.

What was the price of sugar in 1970? ›

Sugar Prices - 37 Year Historical Chart
Sugar Prices - Historical Annual Data
YearAverage Closing PriceAnnual % Change
1972$0.075524.66%
1971$0.046883.26%
1970$0.037851.39%
58 more rows

Which sugar stock is best to buy now? ›

Based on the market cap
NameMarket Cap (Rs. in cr.)PE Ratio
Shree Renuka Sugars Ltd9,567.56-69.06
E I D-Parry (India) Ltd9,143.0410.08
Balrampur Chini Mills Ltd7,451.8416.04
Triveni Engineering and Industries Ltd6,899.6916.27
6 more rows
Mar 8, 2023

Will sugar ever run out? ›

According to Eat By Date, granulated white sugar, white sugar cubes, raw sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, sugar substitute, Equal, and Sweet n Low all last indefinitely. Although their textures might change, sugar never completely expires. Feel like you're eating too much sugar?

Why is sugar so expensive in the US? ›

Because American farmers cannot compete with foreign sugar growers, the federal government has maintained an array of sugar import quotas and/or tariffs for most of the last 200 years.

When did sugar become cheap? ›

Known worldwide by the end of the medieval period, sugar was very expensive and was considered a "fine spice", but from about the year 1500, technological improvements and New World sources began turning it into a much cheaper bulk commodity.

Is sugar becoming more expensive? ›

Prices of refined sugar surged to the highest in more than a decade this week, and are on track to jump about 11% in March, the most for a month since 2021. The raw variety, meanwhile, is hovering near its most expensive level in over six years.

What year was sugar illegal? ›

They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Molasses Act, (1733), in American colonial history, a British law that imposed a tax on molasses, sugar, and rum imported from non-British foreign colonies into the North American colonies.

How much is a loaf of bread in 2023? ›

The change may not look as dramatic – a pound of white bread went from $1.55 to $1.89 between the start of 2022 and the start of 2023 – but that's still a 22% price increase in just one year.

How much was a pound of hamburger in 1960? ›

In 1960, your burger cost an average of just $0.21.

Why are sugar prices so high? ›

Sugar prices have shot to their highest level in more than a decade, boosted by disappointing harvests in some of the world's largest producers and strong demand in China. Prices for raw cane-sugar futures traded in New York, the international benchmark, have jumped this year.

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