Sugar Just Got Costlier: Pune Wholesale Prices Hit a New Record

Pune, 21st July 2026: Sugar prices in Pune’s wholesale market continued their upward trend on Saturday, rising by another ₹50–100 per quintal to a record ₹4,700–4,750 per quintal, traders said.

According to market participants, the sharp increase is being driven by lower-than-expected domestic sugar production this season, an inadequate monthly quota of 22 lakh tonnes allocated for July, and concerns that closing sugar stocks at the start of the next crushing season in October 2026 could fall to around 33 lakh tonnes.

Wholesale sugar prices have surged by more than ₹650 per quintal in July alone. Although the sharp rise over the past fortnight has fuelled speculation, traders said the primary factors behind the increase are lower domestic production and limited market availability.

They added that the 22 lakh tonne quota released for July is insufficient to meet demand. Sugar mill tender prices have already reached ₹4,400 per quintal, prompting mills to release only limited quantities through the tender process.

Traders also said expectations of further price increases have led to increased buying. While wholesalers typically purchase one truckload of sugar per day, many are now buying nearly twice that quantity to build inventories, further tightening market supplies.

Industry representatives have urged the Centre to release an additional 2 lakh tonnes of sugar to help curb the price rise. They said the future trajectory of sugar prices will largely depend on how quickly the Union government reviews domestic availability and decides whether to increase the monthly quota.