The Centre is stirring up the sugar pot for the 2025-26 season, starting this October. Food Minister Pralhad Joshi announced an export plan that allows 1.5 million tonnes (MT) of sugar to be shipped out. Alongside this sweet move, the government has chopped the export duty on molasses by 50%, giving producers a tasty break. In a letter dated November 7 to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Joshi laid out the government's efforts to protect sugarcane farmers. "For the current sugar season also, the central government has decided to allow export of 15 lakh tonne of sugar and 50 per cent export duty on molasses has been removed," he said clearly. However, the industry's wish to export 2 MT was not fully met, as the allocation stands lower. Looking back, India shipped about 800,000 tonnes of sugar in the 2024-25 season, despite having a 1 MT export limit. Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra shared more juicy facts: sugar mills only diverted 3.4 MT of sugar for ethanol production in 2024-25, falling short of the expected 4.5 MT. This slip led to a stockpile piling up, making export a smart choice. "Sugar production for 2025-26 is expected to reach 34 MT against annual domestic demand of 28.5 MT," Chopra added, painting a picture of surplus sweetener in the market. By easing export restrictions and cutting molasses duties, the government hopes to balance farmers' welfare with industry needs. So, India’s sugar story is buzzing with action! Will these steps satisfy farmers and traders alike? Only time will tell, but the government seems ready to make the country’s sugar sweet again on the global stage.