The food ministry, however, did not impose a higher custom duty on sugar as this would affect the traders who are willing to import sugar during shortages.
Sugar production is forecast to reach 26 million tons in 2011-12 marketing year (October-September), compared to 22 million tons of annual domestic consumption in 2010-11 year. Currently, nearly 3 million tons of exports have already been approved. India is the world's leading sugar producer after Brazil.
