Private traders import 1,455 tonne sugar from Pakistan

NEW DELHI: Private traders have imported 1,455 tonne sugar, valued at Rs 4.42 crore, from Pakistan in the first three months of the 2012-13 marketing year starting October, Parliament was informed today.

"As per Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, Kolkata, about 1,455 tonnes of sugar at a value of about Rs 4.42 crore has been imported from Pakistan during current season 2012-13 till December 2012 by private traders," Food Minister K V Thomas said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

The minister said the Centre has not entered into any contract with Pakistan for import of sugar during 2012-13 and 2013-14.

"However, sugar mills/merchant importers are free to import sugar under Open General License (OGL) from any country including Pakistan as per their commercial prudence," he said.

At present, there is 10 per cent duty on sugar imports. Sugar production of India, the world's second largest producer and the biggest consumer, is estimated at 25 million tonne in the 2012-13 marketing year (October-September), as against 26.3 million tonne in the previous year. The domestic consumption is estimated at 22 million tonne.