Pakistan’s Trading Corporation (TCP) has received multiple bids under its international sugar tender to import 100,000 metric tons of white refined sugar, part of efforts to stabilize surging domestic prices. The development was reported on July 31, 2025, following an earlier failed tender for 50,000 tons due to tight shipment deadlines.
Details of Sugar Tender
The lowest bid came from ED&F Man at $539 per metric ton (C&F) for 50,000 tons of fine-grain sugar from any origin. Other notable bids included:
- Dreyfus at $567.40 per ton for 25,000 tons of fine-grain sugar
- Al Khaleej Sugar (UAE) at $599 per ton for 30,000 tons of medium-grain sugar
No final deal has been confirmed yet, but the tender terms allow for shipments in two 50,000-ton batches between August 21 and September 15, with containerized deliveries allowed until September 10, provided all shipments arrive by September 30.
The initiative follows a July 8, 2025 government decision to import 500,000 tons of sugar to address a major price hike since January. To ease import costs, the government slashed customs duties and sales tax to 0.25% on white sugar imports.
Social media reactions on X are mixed: some users are hopeful about price stabilization, while others highlight how Pakistan’s bid prices exceed global averages — with the International Sugar Organization reporting a general decline in sugar prices worldwide.
What’s Next
Interestingly, despite the price pressures at home, Pakistan’s FY25 sugar exports hit 765,734 tons, earning $411 million, a sharp rise from FY24’s 33,101 tons. The contrast underscores ongoing volatility in the country’s sugar supply and pricing strategy.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, July 31st, 2025
Follow SouthAsianDesk on X, Instagram, and Facebook for insights on business and current affairs from across South Asia.
