ECC approves international tenders to export surplus sugar

ECC approves international tenders to export surplus sugar. Add BRecorder as a trusted source on Google.

Key points

• ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Wednesday approved the calling of international tenders to export 108, 000 metric tons (MT) of surplus sugar.
• The matter of surplus sugar came under discussion at a gathering of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce held on August 12, 2026.
• According to the PSMA, the latest stock position as of July 31, 2026 demonstrates that 3.171 million tonnes (MMT) of sugar were available in the country.
• Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Muhammad Aurangzeb, chaired a session of the ECC of the Cabinet here on Wednesday.
• Keeping in view the availability of surplus stocks, the PSMA has requested the administration to immediately allow the export of 633, 000 tonnes of sugar.

As remaining stock from the 300, 000 MT of sugar imported last year on recommendation of the Steering Committee on Sugar, constituted with the approval of Cabinet last year, the ECC considered a summary submitted by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research seeking permission to call international tenders for export of 108, 000 MT of sugar lying with the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP). No plan under consideration to export 'surplus' sugar: MoC. The international tender process will strictly follow the PPRA Rules 2004.

Notably, the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) is reportedly reluctant to backing the export of "surplus" sugar, citing last year's experience when sugar was first exported and subsequently imported.

In practice, the matter of surplus sugar came under discussion at a gathering of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce held on August 12, 2026. Committee member Tahira Aurangzeb sought a clear response from Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul regarding PSMA's demand that the administration allow the export of surplus sugar. "There is no proposal under consideration to allow export of sugar at this point, " the Commerce Secretary informed the committee, adding that it would be apprised if any such proposal was proposed.

According to the PSMA, the latest stock position as of July 31, 2026 demonstrates that 3.171 million tonnes (MMT) of sugar were available in the country. Based on the running monthly average consumption of 564, 196 tonnes, it is estimated that 1.974 MMT would be required to meet domestic requirements for the remaining three and a half months up to November 15, 2026.

This, according to the association, would leave a surplus of 1.197 MMT at the start of the next crushing season. It further contended that another record sugarcane crop was projected during the 2026-27 crushing season. It could result in higher sugar production compared with 2025-26. The PSMA has estimated sugar production for 2026-27 at more than 8.0 MMT.

Keeping in view the availability of surplus stocks, the PSMA has requested the administration to immediately allow the export of 633, 000 tonnes of sugar. It has proposed that another 564, 000 tonnes be retained as one month's strategic reserve and subsequently allow for export within one month of the commencement of the 2026-27 crushing season.

For context, the session was attended by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain; Federal Minister for Investment, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh; Advisor to the Prime Minister for Industries and Production, Mr. Haroon Akhtar Khan; along with federal secretaries and senior authorities from the relevant ministries and divisions.

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Taken together, the developments around ECC approves international tenders to export surplus sugar point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.