Deadline for Duty-Free Import of Raw Sugar Extended Until December 31

New Delhi. The Central Government has extended the deadline for the duty-free import of 1 million tonnes (10 lakh tonnes) of raw sugar—under the Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) system—by two months, from October 31, 2026, to December 31, 2026.

According to a notification issued on October 19, 2026, by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)—a body under the Union Ministry of Commerce—an initial notification was issued on August 20, 2026, authorizing the duty-free import of 1 million tonnes of raw sugar, requiring millers/refiners to complete their allocated imports by October 31. Permission has now been granted to import the remaining portion of this quota by December 31, 2026, subject to certain conditions.

As per the notification, only the timeframe for the duty-free import of 1 million tonnes of raw sugar under the TRQ has been extended by two months; all other terms and conditions stipulated in the original notification dated August 20, 2026, remain unchanged. This new notification provides importers with an extended window until December 31, 2026, to procure the remainder of their allocated sugar quota.

Due to the impact of El Niño and a weak monsoon, sugarcane and sugar production for the 2026-27 season is not expected to be robust. Consequently, the government aims to ensure that the full quota of 1 million tonnes of raw sugar is imported, thereby helping to stabilize domestic supply and availability.