India's sugar exports grow by 291% since 2013-14

Sugar exports exceed 10 million tons for the first time

Sugar exports rise by 64.90% during 2021-22 alone

Modi government’s policies are helping farmers increase their income by tapping global markets – Shri Piyush Goyal

India's Sugar Exports witnessed an astounding growth of 291% from USD 1,177 million in FY 2013-14 to USD 4600 million in FY 2021-22. As per DGCI&S data, India exported sugar to 121 countries across the globe.

Sugar export jumped 65 per cent in 2021-22 corresponding to previous year. The growth was achieved despite logistical challenges posed by COVID19 pandemic in the form of high freight rates, container shortages, etc.

Highlighting the historic achievement in a tweet, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal said that Modi government’s policies were helping farmers increase their income by tapping global markets.

According to the DGCI&S 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.  

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 U.A.E (USD 270 million). India also exported sugar to Somalia, Saudi Arab, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Nepal, China, etc. 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, etc.

Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka account for nearly 80 percent 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 realizations. The significant rise in agri-exports is also seen as a testimony of the government’s commitment to increase farmers’ income by boosting exports of agricultural and processed food products of the country.

In order to ensure seamless quality certification of products to be exported, APEDA has recognized 220 labs across India to provide services of testing to a wide range of products and exporters.

APEDA organizes participation of exporters in the International Trade Fairs, which provides a platform to the exporters to market their food products in the global marketplace. APEDA also organizes national events like AAHAR, Organic World Congress, BioFach India etc. to promote agri-exports.

In 2019, APEDA led a delegation of exporters to Indonesia to organised road shows and had meetings with relevant authorities. Thereafter, export to Indonesia picked up and today they are the highest importer of sugar from India. 

Table: Sugar Export

                                                                                                                   Unit: USD Million

Products	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22
Sugar	1965	2791	4600

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 tons. The Government will continue to take all possible steps to maintain this upward trend in sugar exports.

Export promotion and quality certification enabling wider market access and higher returns for sugar producers and exporters. Rapid expansion of sugar exports is attributed to export-promotion policies, trade facilitation, and quality-certification infrastructure. APEDA's recognition of testing laboratories and organisation of trade fairs and delegations are identified as key operational measures enabling market access and demand creation. Continued surplus production permits export-led stock reduction and supports improved realizations for sugarcane farmers, aligning export growth with the policy goal of increasing farmer income while maintaining comfortable domestic stocks.