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By:

Rajendra Joshi

3 December 2024 at 9:20:26 am

Sugar industry strains as traders reap profits

Gap between ex-mill prices, retail rates raised questions Kolhapur: The Indian sugar industry is caught in a deepening crisis, with sugar mills struggling to secure remunerative prices for their produce even as traders and middlemen appear to be making substantial profits. While sugar mills are receiving between Rs 4,600 and Rs 4,800 per quintal through recent sale tenders, retail prices have remained as high as Rs 58 per kg. The widening gap between ex-mill prices and retail rates has...

Sugar industry strains as traders reap profits

Gap between ex-mill prices, retail rates raised questions Kolhapur: The Indian sugar industry is caught in a deepening crisis, with sugar mills struggling to secure remunerative prices for their produce even as traders and middlemen appear to be making substantial profits. While sugar mills are receiving between Rs 4,600 and Rs 4,800 per quintal through recent sale tenders, retail prices have remained as high as Rs 58 per kg. The widening gap between ex-mill prices and retail rates has raised serious questions about the role of intermediaries and the effectiveness of the Centre’s efforts to contain sugar prices. The margins available to traders and intermediaries have reportedly crossed 20 per cent, leaving sugar millers perplexed. At a time when both sugarcane growers and mill operators are under financial pressure, the trading chain appears to be benefiting disproportionately. The Centre must examine this growing disparity and take corrective measures to prevent speculative profiteering. Retail sugar prices began rising sharply in August, touching nearly Rs 70 per kg in some markets. The escalation added to inflationary pressures and caused concern among consumers, particularly ahead of the festive season. In response, the Centre introduced a series of measures to improve domestic availability and moderate prices. These included permitting duty-free sugar imports, initially until October 31, a deadline subsequently extended to December 31. The government also directed sugar mills to commence the crushing season from October 15 and tightened monitoring of sugar stocks. In another significant intervention, it modified the ethanol policy, restricting the diversion of sugarcane juice, sugar syrup and B-heavy molasses for ethanol production. Following these measures, sugar mills began witnessing a decline in the prices offered through their sale tenders. Recent transactions have fetched between Rs 4,600 and Rs 4,800 per quintal. Going by the conventional relationship between ex-mill prices and retail rates, sugar should ideally have been available to consumers at less than ₹50 per kg. However, retail prices continue to hover around Rs 58 per kg, pointing to a substantial disconnect between the mill gate and the consumer market. Traditionally, sugar retailing operated on relatively thin margins. Since sugar is an essential commodity, retailers often treated it as a low-margin product to attract customers who would subsequently purchase other household provisions. The margin was sometimes informally equated with the resale value of the empty 50-kg jute bags in which sugar was supplied. This was considered a nominal return for retailers. That traditional pricing mechanism, however, appears to have undergone a significant change. The widening gap between mill-level tender prices and retail rates has created considerable scope for intermediaries to extract higher margins. The critical question is whether the additional amount paid by consumers is reaching the sugar mills or remaining within the trading chain. The issue assumes particular significance in Maharashtra, where the sugarcane pricing dispute has intensified ahead of the new crushing season. Farmers’ organisations have been demanding a minimum price of Rs 5,500 per tonne for sugarcane. Millers, meanwhile, are preparing to agitate for a revision in the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) framework and the restoration of a more supportive ethanol policy. The Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, led by Raju Shetti, has taken a firm position that sugar mills should not be allowed to commence operations until farmers receive an acceptable price for their cane. Shetti has also drawn the state government’s attention to the unusually high retail prices of sugar, questioning why consumers continue to pay more even as mills are forced to sell at relatively lower rates. The Centre’s sudden changes to the ethanol policy have further complicated the industry’s financial position. Ethanol production had emerged as an important revenue stream for sugar mills, enabling them to diversify operations, improve cash flows and enhance their capacity to pay farmers. Restrictions on the diversion of sugarcane-based raw materials have weakened this support at a critical juncture. The resulting contradiction is difficult to ignore: farmers are demanding better cane prices, millers are struggling with shrinking realisations and policy uncertainty, while intermediaries appear to be benefiting from the gap between wholesale and retail prices. The government cannot address the sugar crisis merely by regulating mill stocks, imports and ethanol diversion. It must also examine the entire supply chain, identify where the widening margins are accruing and ensure that the benefits of market interventions reach both sugarcane growers and consumers. With nearly Rs 2 lakh crore riding on the sugar economy, allowing intermediaries to thrive while the industry’s primary stakeholders struggle would be a serious policy failure.

Duss (10) Suron Ki Sunoge, Toh Sahi Kaise Chunoge?”

Writer: Kaustubh Kale
Kaustubh Kale
2 hours ago
2 min read

Dussehra may have passed a few days ago, but its lessons remain relevant throughout the year. The festival celebrates Lord Ram’s triumph over Ravana, who is famously depicted with ten heads.


In the world of personal finance, these “ten heads” can symbolize the overwhelming number of opinions and advice people receive when managing their money. If you listen to every voice and follow every trend, you will struggle to identify the right path for yourself.


Learn Personal Finance: Knowledge is Power

In today’s fast-paced world, financial advice is everywhere - friends, family, colleagues, social media influencers, and unsolicited internet tips. Not all of it will be relevant to your unique financial situation.


To navigate through the noise, it is important to take control of your financial education.


Start by understanding key financial concepts like risk, return, liquidity, and time horizon for different investment products.


Risk refers to the potential loss you might face with an investment. Return is the profit you can expect to earn. Liquidity indicates how easily an asset can be converted into cash. Time horizon is how long you plan to invest before needing to access the funds.


Learning these basics will help you evaluate which products actually suit your goals and needs.


By educating yourself, you will develop a critical eye that helps you distinguish between helpful advice and distracting noise.


Whenever you analyse any instrument, all four criteria (risk, return, liquidity, time horizon) must be considered together and aligned with your financial goals - such as children’s education, marriage, buying a home, vacations, cars, or retirement.


Having a foundational understanding of these concepts ensures that you do not fall prey to quick-fix schemes or misleading suggestions that often sound attractive in the short run but prove damaging over the long term.


Have a Financial Advisor: Like a Family Doctor for Your Finances

As you educate yourself, you will eventually realise that managing your finances can be challenging. This is where having a reliable financial advisor, much like a trusted family doctor, plays a crucial role.


Wealth creation is a marathon, not a sprint. While basic financial knowledge helps you understand the dos and don'ts, a financial advisor handholds you throughout the journey, guiding you towards your financial destination.


A financial advisor tailors their guidance based on your unique profile - your income, savings, risk tolerance, and future financial goals.


A good advisor helps you stay focused on long-term objectives while steering you away from emotional or impulsive decisions. Hence, it is important to have a well-qualified, full-time financial advisor.


The Dussehra Reminder

The message remains: do not listen to ten heads. Choose wisely, stay informed, and have a trusted financial guide by your side.


After all, it takes years of education, experience, expertise, and wisdom to write a prescription - so do not self-medicate when it comes to your wealth!


(The writer is a Chartered Accountant and CFA (USA). Financial Advisor. Views personal. He could be reached on 9833133605.)

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