India must allow export of 500,000 tonnes of sugar soon

India must soon allow 500,000 tonnes of unrestricted sugar exports and bumper cane harvests can easily help the world's top consumer to ship out 1.5 million tonnes more of the sweetener, industry officials said. Sugar output in 2010/11 in India, the world's second-biggest producer behind Brazil, might cross 25 million tonnes, said Narendra Murkumbi, president of Indian Sugar Mills Association, a producers' body.
India has flip-flopped on 500,000 tonnes of unrestricted sugar exports, termed Open General Licence (OGL) sales. In December, a minister said mills could export the permitted quantity under the licence.