# Sugar price in Pakistan at Rs 145.59/kg as PSMA warns surplus may delay crushing Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/business/sugar-price-in-pakistan-at-rs-14559kg-as-psma-warns-surplus-may-delay-crushing) Type: News article Author: Searchable Editorial Published: 17 Sept 2026 Updated: 17 Sept 2026 Retrieved: 17 Sept 2026 > Sugar mills say about 1.25 million tonnes of surplus stock could delay the new crushing season unless exports are allowed. Retail sugar averaged Rs145.59 per kg in the latest PBS survey. The Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) has warned that mills may delay the 2026-27 cane crushing season if the government does not allow more of the country's surplus sugar to be exported. PSMA Chairman Zaka Ashraf made the warning at a press conference in Lahore on Wednesday, 16 September. Mills are asking for permission to export at least 1 million tonnes. The government has so far approved 200,000 tonnes from local production, plus 108,000 tonnes of sugar that had been imported earlier. The association calls this insufficient. ## The numbers - **2025-26 production:** 7.7 million tonnes, plus 271,000 tonnes carried over, for about 8 million tonnes available - **Domestic consumption:** about 560,000 tonnes a month - **Surplus expected by 15 November:** about 1.25 million tonnes, according to PSMA - **Export demand:** at least 1 million tonnes, against 200,000 tonnes approved from local output PSMA also expects another large crop in the coming season. Ashraf said a surplus of 1.5 million tonnes is expected, as reported by The Express Tribune. ## What sugar costs you right now Sugar is much cheaper than it was a year ago. In the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) weekly price survey for the week ended 10 September 2026, refined sugar averaged **Rs145.59 per kg** across the country. That was down 0.42% from the previous week, and 20.88% lower than the Rs184.01 recorded a year earlier. Cheaper sugar has helped household budgets even though overall inflation has picked up. You can track that on our [CPI inflation page](/data/cpi-yoy). ## Why a delay matters Mills say too much of their cash is tied up in unsold sugar, which makes it hard to pay cane growers. If crushing starts late, farmers in Punjab and Sindh may have to keep cane standing in the fields longer. That can delay their payments and push back wheat sowing on the same land. Ashraf also said mills could pay growers international prices if the government fully deregulated the sector. According to Dawn, about 70% of sugar, the share sold for commercial and industrial use, is already deregulated. Sugar for household consumption is still controlled by the government. ## What it means for you For now, a surplus is good news for consumers: plenty of stock usually keeps retail prices in check. The government has been cautious about exports because in past years, large exports were followed by shortages and price spikes at home. If exports are allowed on a large scale, watch shop prices in the months that follow. Shelf prices in Karachi, Lahore and smaller cities usually follow ex-mill rates within a few weeks. ## What happens next The next decision rests with the federal government on whether to raise the export quota. PBS publishes its next weekly price update on Friday, which will show whether sugar prices are moving. Growers and mills will be watching for official crushing start dates from the Punjab and Sindh governments. ## Frequently asked questions **What is the sugar price in Pakistan today?** In the PBS weekly survey for the week ended 10 September 2026, refined sugar averaged Rs145.59 per kg nationally, about 21% lower than a year earlier. **How much sugar export has the government allowed?** According to PSMA, the government has approved exports of 200,000 tonnes from domestic production and 108,000 tonnes of previously imported sugar. Mills want at least 1 million tonnes. ## Sources - Sugar glut threatens crushing season, warns PSMA (Dawn): https://www.dawn.com/news/2030490/sugar-glut-threatens-crushing-season-warns-psma - Millers seek to export 1m tonnes of sugar (The Express Tribune): https://tribune.com.pk/story/2629733/millers-seek-to-export-1m-tonnes-of-sugar - Weekly Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the week ended on 10-09-2026 (Pakistan Bureau of Statistics): https://www.pbs.gov.pk/weekly-sensitive-price-indicator-spi-for-the-week-ended-on-10-09-2026/ - PSMA urges govt to allow export of 1m tons of sugar (The Nation): https://www.nation.com.pk/17-Sep-2026/psma-urges-govt-allow-export-1m-tons-sugar How to cite: "Sugar price in Pakistan at Rs 145.59/kg as PSMA warns surplus may delay crushing", Searchable, 17 Sept 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/business/sugar-price-in-pakistan-at-rs-14559kg-as-psma-warns-surplus-may-delay-crushing