ECC flags flawed sugar projections as import-export cycle costs economy

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has questioned repeated errors in government sugar and food forecasts, blaming them for a costly cycle of importing and then exporting. Profit by Pakistan Today reports that the ECC has told the food ministry to base projections on reliable data, demand and supply analysis, and realistic market conditions. The debate arose as the committee considered disposing of 108,000 tonnes of imported sugar held by the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP), a stock costing over Rs200 million monthly.

Local ex-mill prices stood at around Rs132 to Rs140 per kg, while selling the imported stock at home would leave a gap of Rs50 to Rs55 per kg. TCP is also carrying a markup of roughly Rs2 per kg on the stored sugar. Output later fell by 15% amid lower cane supply, heatwaves, crop disease and competition from other crops, following exports of about 790,000 tonnes allowed in 2024-25.

The ECC approved purchases of up to 500,000 tonnes in June 2025, and TCP eventually brought in 300,000 tonnes, selling 192,000 tonnes locally. Tenders in November 2025 failed as bids fell far below landed cost, so the remaining 108,000 tonnes will be offered abroad through international bidding. Roughly Rs15 billion is still owed by the Punjab and Balochistan administrations, corporate entities and Karachi-based sugar dealers, and TCP must provide a breakdown and ageing schedule at its next meeting.