The world's primary caloric staple, feeding over 3.5 billion people; Indian export policy and Asian monsoon outcomes set the price that importing nations across Africa and Asia pay.
A globally traded bulk sweetener sourced from sugarcane and sugar beet; supply shocks from Brazil and India set food-import costs across South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
DGFT moved raw, white, and refined sugar to the 'prohibited' category on May 13, 2026, after two consecutive seasons of consumption outpacing production and ethanol diversion cutting net output
After a 14-month ban on non-basmati white rice exports that rattled global food markets in 2023-24, India progressively lifted all major restrictions; FY2025-26 exports are now forecast at 24 million tonnes, a record, and global prices are down 35%