New Delhi, May 14 -- India on Wednesday banned exports of raw, white and refined sugar till 30 September 2026, marking a sharp shift from the earlier "restricted" export regime to a "prohibited" category. However, the government has exempted exports to the US and the European Union under existing quota arrangements. Also, certain consignments already in the shipment pipeline are exempt, including cargo already loaded, shipments cleared by customs and exports under specific tariff-rate quotas. The export ban will not impact government-to-government exports either. The immediate trigger is the concern over domestic availability and inflation. Mint explains the reasons behind the ban and its implications on the sugar industry.

India's domes...