Sugar mills refuse to begin crushing before December, demand export of 400,000 tonnes

The Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) says its members will hold off on starting the new crushing season until December and are seeking approval to export a further 400,000 tonnes of sugar. Profit by Pakistan Today reported that the decision was made unanimously at a Wednesday meeting attended by mill owners from Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The association says around 1.1 million tonnes of surplus sugar remain in storage, although an export quota of 200,000 tonnes had already been approved. It argues that exports have not been permitted under the agreed arrangements and is also pressing the government to announce a deregulation policy. PSMA has authorised its executive committee to approach the federal government, and plans a Lahore press conference on November 16 to outline its next steps.