Sugar sector demands MSP hike by Rs 7/kg; may push up the retail price

Industry players said it would still be lower than the rate at which sugar was selling in the open markets last year

Facing an unprecedented crisis of surplus production, the Indian sugar industry has demanded the government hike the minimum sale price (MSP) of sugar to Rs 36 a kilo (kg), from the current Rs 29 and mandatorily fix a quota of export of 7 million tonnes (mt) for the 2018-19 season that starts from October.
 
The increase in the MSP by Rs 7 a kg would immediately push up the retail price of sugar by Rs 4-5 per kg, but industry players said it would still be lower than the rate at which sugar was selling in the open markets