{"id":16102,"date":"2026-08-24T19:04:55","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T19:04:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=16102"},"modified":"2026-08-24T19:04:55","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T19:04:55","slug":"stocking-speculation-behind-unnatural-sugar-price-surge-isma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=16102","title":{"rendered":"Stocking, speculation behind \u2018unnatural\u2019 sugar price surge: ISMA"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"e9jwa\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"GfdvZ\">\n<section class=\"_bIDB  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  E9tg9 \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"_bIDB\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"ypVvZ\">\n<div class=\"WGttI\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-133477568,imgsize-109746,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/sugar.jpg\" alt=\"Stocking, speculation behind \u2018unnatural\u2019 sugar price surge: ISMA\" title=\"Sugar prices jump 29% in a month, industry blames \u2018speculative behaviour\u2019 for artificial tightness\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ta7d_ img_cptn\"><span title=\"Sugar prices jump 29% in a month, industry blames \u2018speculative behaviour\u2019 for artificial tightness\">Sugar prices jump 29% in a month, industry blames \u2018speculative behaviour\u2019 for artificial tightness<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>NEW DELHI: Sugar industry\u2019s apex body ISMA on Monday said that there is no shortage of the sweetener while admitting that the spike in prices is \u201cnot natural\u201d and is being fuelled by stocking by bulk consumers and \u201cspeculative behaviour\u201d.<!-- --> The industry body said they want \u201crationalisation\u201d of retail prices and are hopeful of a reduction in the coming days following multiple steps that govt has taken.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"3\"\/>The industry also dismissed allegations of diversion of sugar for ethanol production as a reason for tight supply of the sweetener and increasing prices. It said only 290 crore litres out of a total 1,200 crore litre of ethanol came from sugar during this ethanol supply year (Oct 2025- Sept 2026). <!-- -->\u201cOnly after ensuring availability for domestic consumers and adequate opening stock, allocation for diversion of sugar for ethanol is decided,\u201d ISMA functionaries said.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"8\"\/>On Monday, the average all-India retail prices of sugar stood at Rs 63 per kg, 29% higher than Rs 48.7 per kilo a month back.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"10\"\/>Speaking to reporters, ISMA president Niraj Shirgaokar said that the increase is not being driven by any \u201cactual shotfall\u201d in availability. \u201cThe largest contributor has been speculative behaviour. A section of traders created a misleading impression of tightness, and in response, large bulk buyers who would normally procure just-in-time began stocking 1.5-2 months of supply in advance. That behaviour pulled sugar out of circulation and into godowns, creating artificial tightness that had nothing to do with actual availability,\u201d he said.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"14\"\/>ISMA said that prices have risen also due to factors including lower production than estimated, weather conditions and pests that impacted the crop. <!-- -->The association functionaries said that millers got a good ex-mill price, which peaked Rs 58-59 a kg, due to this artificial rise in sugar prices and now it\u2019s declining, which will soon be reflected in the retail market.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"18\"\/>Shirgaokar projected the closing stock of roughly 35 lakh tonne at the end of Sept calling it \u201ca healthy buffer against normal domestic demand\u201d He added govt\u2019s duty-free import window, tightened stockholding limits, ongoing special crushing, and an early start to the new season would help in augmenting domestic supply and control prices.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"22\"\/>Asked about govt putting blame on industry for jacking up ex-mill prices, ISMA president said that the industry was not involved in creating any artificial scarcity and increasing rates. However, he did not rule out that some mills might be holding stocks and said the govt is looking into that.<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/business\/india-business\/stocking-speculation-behind-unnatural-sugar-price-surge-isma\/articleshow\/133477346.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sugar prices jump 29% in a month, industry blames \u2018speculative behaviour\u2019 for artificial tightness NEW DELHI: Sugar industry\u2019s apex body ISMA on Monday said that there is no shortage of the sweetener while admitting that the spike in prices is \u201cnot natural\u201d and is being fuelled by stocking by bulk consumers and \u201cspeculative behaviour\u201d. The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16103,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16102","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-31"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787598296_sugar.jpg","medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787598296_sugar.jpg","medium_large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787598296_sugar.jpg","large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787598296_sugar.jpg","1536x1536":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787598296_sugar.jpg","2048x2048":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787598296_sugar.jpg","blogsy-small":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787598296_sugar.jpg","blogsy-small-tall":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787598296_sugar.jpg","blogsy-small-square":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787598296_sugar.jpg","blogsy-small-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787598296_sugar.jpg","blogsy-medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787598296_sugar.jpg","blogsy-medium-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787598296_sugar.jpg","blogsy-large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787598296_sugar.jpg","blogsy-wide":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787598296_sugar.jpg"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"admin","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"Sugar prices jump 29% in a month, industry blames \u2018speculative behaviour\u2019 for artificial tightness NEW DELHI: Sugar industry\u2019s apex body ISMA on Monday said that there is no shortage of the sweetener while admitting that the spike in prices is \u201cnot natural\u201d and is being fuelled by stocking by bulk consumers and \u201cspeculative behaviour\u201d. 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