DGFT Extends Duty-Free Raw Sugar Import Window to December 31, 2026

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Dated: 23.10.2026

DGFT Extends Duty-Free Raw Sugar Import Window to December 31, 2026

India’s government has extended the deadline for duty-free imports of raw sugar under its existing tariff-rate quota (TRQ), giving eligible importers an additional two months to use the approved quota.

What has changed

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, has amended the import-policy condition for raw sugar classified under Exim Code 170114.

Raw sugar imports remain classified as “Free”, subject to a duty-free TRQ of 10 lakh metric tonnes (1 million MT). The key change is the validity period:

Previous deadline: October 31, 2026
Revised deadline: December 31, 2026
Extension: Two months

This extension continues the arrangement set out in Notification No. 31/2025-26 dated August 20, 2026.

Policy impact for importers

The amendment preserves access to duty-free imports within the 10 lakh MT quota until the end of 2026. Importers that qualify under the existing TRQ conditions now have additional time to complete shipments, clear cargo, and utilize available quota volumes before the revised deadline.

The notification does not expand the quota. It only extends the period during which the existing 10 lakh MT duty-free allocation may be imported. All other eligibility requirements and conditions from the earlier notification remain unchanged.

Why the extension matters

Extending the import window may help provide more flexibility in raw-sugar procurement and logistics. Businesses affected by shipment lead times, contracting cycles, port operations, or documentation requirements can use the additional time to plan imports within the duty-free quota period.

For the sugar market, the measure maintains the government’s existing import-policy framework while allowing duty-free quota imports to continue through December 31, 2026. Because the quota volume remains fixed, the policy change is a timing extension rather than an increase in permitted import quantity.

Legal basis and scope

The amendment was issued by the Central Government under Sections 3 and 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, read with relevant provisions of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023. It applies specifically to:

Product: Raw sugar
Exim Code: 170114
Import policy: Free, subject to the TRQ condition
Duty-free TRQ volume: 10 lakh MT
Revised validity: Up to December 31, 2026

Bottom line

The DGFT has extended the deadline for importing up to 10 lakh MT of raw sugar duty-free under the existing tariff-rate quota from October 31, 2026, to December 31, 2026. The quota size and all other conditions remain unchanged.

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Source: DGFT

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