Sindh mills halt sugar supply to Karachi, raising concerns over price hike

Sugar mills across Sindh have stopped supplying sugar to Karachi since Tuesday, disrupting wholesale markets and sparking fears of a potential price increase, according to media reports. 

The Wholesale Grocers Association said that as of Monday, the ex-mill price of sugar was Rs175 per kg, while the wholesale rate stood at Rs179 per kg. The supply halt has removed this pricing consistency, leaving wholesalers uncertain.

The association chairman alleged that sugar mill owners are deliberately withholding stock to create an artificial shortage and drive up prices. He added that the mills are hoarding sugar in anticipation of selling it at higher rates once supplies resume.

He also highlighted that imported sugar would take at least three weeks to reach local markets, leaving no immediate alternative to the local supply. “Currently, there is no fixed price for sugar in Karachi’s wholesale markets, which raises the risk of a sudden price hike,” he said.

The supply disruption comes amid already fragile economic conditions, raising concerns among both wholesalers and consumers, particularly with Ramadan approaching.