Now Reading: DGFT extends duty-free raw sugar import deadline to December 31
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DGFT extends duty-free raw sugar import deadline to December 31
The Story in Brief
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has extended the deadline for duty-free imports of 10 lakh metric tonnes of raw sugar by two months, giving importers until December 31, 2026, to bring in supplies under the existing quota.
The extension keeps open a duty-free import window for raw sugar through the end of the year. The additional time could help importers complete shipments under the quota, although the government has not announced any change to the quantity permitted or the conditions governing imports.
Under the revised import policy, raw sugar classified under Exim Code 170114 can be imported duty-free under the 10 lakh metric tonne Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) until December 31, subject to specified conditions. The government had previously set October 31, 2026, as the deadline through Notification No. 31/2025-26, dated August 20, 2026. All other conditions specified in the August notification remain unchanged.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The two-month extension gives sugar mills and traders more time to arrange shipments without losing the duty waiver, but the total quota of 10 lakh tonnes stays unchanged. Importers who had not secured vessels or customs clearance by the original October 31 deadline now have until December 31 to complete their imports. The policy leaves unanswered whether the government will consider a further extension or an additional quota if domestic prices rise or supply tightens through the crushing season. The next step is the December 31 deadline itself, after which the tariff rate quota lapses.
Source: cnbctv18.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
