India, Aug. 21 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
Sugar prices have increased in recent weeks, from Rs.48.18 per kg on 20 July 2026 to Rs.55.70 per kg on 20 August 2026. The Government is closely monitoring the situation and has taken a series of measures to ensure adequate availability of sugar and stable prices for consumers.
Rise in sugar prices cannot be attributed to ethanol
It is incorrect to attribute the recent increase in sugar prices to diversion of sugar for ethanol production.
In fact, the share of sugar diverted for ethanol has declined from around 12% in 2022-23 to around 9% in 2025-26. Moreover, nearly three-fourths of the ethanol produced in the country now comes from grains, particularly maize.
The presen...