Kyrgyzstan proposes six-month white sugar import ban as imports jump fourfold
Kyrgyzstan has proposed a temporary white sugar import ban for up to six months to protect domestic sugar beet farmers and mills. Sugar imports quadrupled year on year to 66,900 tonnes in January–July 2026, raising oversupply concerns. Transit, re-export and certain other shipments would be exempt.
Kyrgyzstan is considering a temporary ban on white sugar imports for up to six months to protect domestic sugar beet farmers and sugar mills amid a sharp increase in overseas supplies and falling import prices, reported Qazinform News Agency.
The country’s Cabinet of Ministers has submitted a draft decree for public consultation, proposing restrictions during the processing and marketing period for the 2026 domestic sugar beet harvest.
The proposed measure follows a substantial increase in sugar imports. Between January and July 2026, Kyrgyzstan imported 66,900 tonnes of sugar, four times the volume recorded during the corresponding period last year.
Brazil, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Belarus are the main suppliers of sugar to the Central Asian country.
Authorities have warned that continued imports ahead of the arrival of new domestic supplies could lead to an oversupply in the market, putting downward pressure on prices and reducing earnings for local sugar beet growers.
The proposed restrictions are intended to give domestic processors and farmers greater protection during the period when locally produced sugar enters the market.
However, the draft decree provides for several exemptions. The ban would not cover white sugar transported through Kyrgyzstan in transit, including shipments moving between member states of the Eurasian Economic Union. Re-export consignments, extra-grade sugar and cargo dispatched before the restrictions come into force would also be exempt.
The proposal remains open for public discussion. If adopted, the temporary measure would seek to balance domestic sugar production with market demand during the 2026 harvest processing and sales season.
To Read more about Sugar Industry continue reading Agriinsite.com
Source : ChiniMandi
