The Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) announced a new international tender on Monday to purchase 100,000 tonnes of white refined sugar, according to European traders. This fresh tender doubles the earlier procurement target of 50,000 tonnes and comes after Pakistan’s government approved the import of 500,000 tonnes of sugar to curb sharply rising retail prices. The deadline for price offer submissions is August 11, with the lowest bids so far starting at $539 per tonne, cost and freight included.
Traders noted that Pakistan is unlikely to proceed with purchases under its previous tender for 100,000 tonnes issued on July 31, as no binding purchases were reported. The prior tender participation included three companies offering prices at around $539 to $586 per tonne for various grades of sugar sourced globally, excluding India and Israel. A separate tender for 50,000 tonnes in July reportedly received no offers, mainly due to tight shipment timelines.
The new tender specifies that sugar shipments can be packed in bags and transported either via ocean containers or breakbulk, with shipments organized in phases. Breakbulk shipments totaling 100,000 tonnes are sought for periods between September 1–15 and September 10–25, while container shipments can take place between September 1 and 20. All sugar shipments are expected to reach Pakistan by October 20.
Meanwhile, sugar traders express uncertainty over Pakistan’s sugar trade policy amid government scrutiny of stocks and an ongoing cartelization case involving major sugar mills and associations. Notably, Pakistan’s sugar exports surged to 765,734 tonnes in FY25, earning $411 million, contrasting sharply with the previous fiscal year’s modest export figures, underscoring the dynamic shifts in the sector and the government’s focused intervention efforts.
