The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has extended the deadline for duty-free imports of 10 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of raw sugar by two months, from October 31 to December 31, 2026. The extension is intended to give importers additional time to bring in the permitted quantity under the Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) scheme.
The decision was notified by the DGFT under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on October 19, 2026. According to the notification, imports will continue to be classified as “Free”, subject to a TRQ of 10 LMT on a duty-free basis and the conditions specified under the existing policy. The overall duty-free import quota remains unchanged; only the deadline has been extended.
The government had permitted duty-free imports of 10 LMT of raw sugar under the TRQ scheme through a DGFT notification dated August 20, 2026. The original deadline for importing the permitted quantity was October 31, 2026. The latest extension provides importers with an additional two months to utilise the quota.
The government’s decision to permit duty-free imports was aimed at improving domestic sugar availability and easing price pressures amid concerns over tighter supplies. The move marked India’s first major sugar import initiative in nearly a decade. The extension provides additional time for importers to utilise the allocated duty-free quota.
Separate Extension for Surrendering Unused Quota
In a related development, the DGFT, through a public notice dated October 19, 2026, extended the deadline for surrendering unused TRQ allocations for raw sugar imports to November 15, 2026. Under the public notice, TRQ holders may surrender any unutilised quantity allocated to them, subject to a payment equivalent to 0.5% of the CIF (cost, insurance and freight) value of the surrendered quantity, in accordance with the existing modalities.
The TRQ scheme requires imported raw sugar to be processed into white or refined sugar and sold in the domestic market. An earlier amendment to the scheme stipulated that this processing and sale must be completed within two months of the filing of the Bill of Entry, the customs declaration submitted for an imported consignment.