KOLKATA August 26 2026: The sweet industry in West Bengal is feeling pressure because sugar prices have gone up sharply making production costs rise just weeks before the festive season. In Kolkata the price of sugar has risen to about ₹70 per kilogram and traders report that sugar prices have increased by about ₹20 per kilogram in the last month. This rise has worried makers and shop owners who are getting ready for the September‑November festive rush.
The timing is very important for Bengal, where sweets like rosogolla, sandesh, chamcham and many syrup‑based sweetsre a key part of celebrations, social gatherings and religious festivals. Because demand is expected to grow during Durga Puja and other festivities sweet makers must balance sugar costs with customers’ sensitivity to price changes.
Sugar Prices Jump Sharply
Traders say that sugar prices in Kolkata have risen sharply in days. Sugar prices jumped by 10 percent in only four to five days after already going up a lot during the previous month. Wholesale sugar prices have reached about ₹65 per kilogram while retail sugar prices are moving toward ₹70.
The rise is not for refined sugar. Other sugar‑based ingredients and products such as jaggery, batasa and nakuldana have also become more expensive. This means businesses that rely heavily on sweeteners face pressure in categories, not just from sugar.
Sweet Makers Under Pressure
For shops and manufacturers in Bengal sugar is a basic ingredient. Higher sugar prices raise the cost of making traditional sweets especially those that need large amounts of sugar syrup. Some manufacturers have already raised prices a little while others are keeping prices the same for now but warn that more increases may become unavoidable if sugar stays expensive. The challenge is ahead of the festive season because businesses normally see a big rise in orders. Raising prices much could push customers away while taking on all the extra cost could squeeze profit margins that are already tight.
Government Takes Steps
The Centre has tried to ease the price pressure by letting sugar mills import one million tonnes of sugar a step not taken for about ten years. Traders say this decision has not yet lowered retail sugar prices. The government has also put in rules that limit how much bulk buyers can hold when they use than 10 tonnes of sugar each month keeping their stocks at about 15 days of use. These rules are meant to stop stockpiling and improve market availability.
Why It Matters Ahead of Durga Puja
The price rise comes at a time for West Bengal. The September‑November period brings some of the demand for sweets this year as families, businesses and organisations buy large amounts for celebrations and gifts. If high sugar prices continue customers may see prices, for traditional Bengali sweets while sweet makers may have to decide on portion sizes, product prices and profit margins. For now the industry watches markets closely. Whether the government’s import measures can improve supply and lower prices before the festive rush will decide how much of the cost reaches customers.
