Cheap imported sugar is affecting the sale of locally produced sugar at Joypurhat Sugar Mills Limited, even as the country’s largest sugar mill reports improved production and better prices for sugarcane farmers in recent seasons, the daily sun reported.
Set up in the 1960s, the mill has faced rising losses since independence due to issues such as poor management, excess staff, low sugarcane prices, and disputes with farmers. Between 2020 and 2022, the mill suffered continuous losses and has now accumulated debts of nearly Tk850 crore.
The situation started improving from the 2023–24 crushing season after steps were taken to address fair sugarcane pricing and timely payment to farmers.
Mohammad Khabir Uddin, managing director of the sugar mill, said that during the 2025–26 season the mill crushed around 54,500 tonnes of sugarcane grown on nearly 3,700 acres in the Joypurhat mill zone and in the areas of two closed mills at Shyampur and Mahimaganj. He said the crushing level is almost the same as last year but much higher than the figures recorded three to four years ago. The mill produced about 2,801.5 tonnes of sugar this season.
He added that sugar output could increase further if the mill manages to crush around 65,000 tonnes of sugarcane next year.
Farmers growing sugarcane have expressed satisfaction with the prices offered by the mill. At present, farmers receive Tk650 per quintal of sugarcane.
Sharecropper Entazul Islam from the Pakurdoli area of Joypurhat Sadar Upazila and farmer Abdus Samad from Ayma village in Panchbibi Upazila said they earn around Tk70,000 to Tk80,000 per bigha from sugarcane cultivation and make a profit of about Tk30,000 to Tk40,000 after meeting expenses.
However, despite better production and farmer satisfaction, the mill is finding it difficult to sell its sugar due to competition from cheaper imported varieties.
According to the managing director, the mill currently has about 3,594.45 tonnes of sugar in stock, including unsold sugar carried over from last year.
Market sources said sugar produced by the Joypurhat mill sells for around Tk130 per kilogram in the retail market, while imported sugar is available at Tk95 to Tk100 per kilogram.
Retailers and wholesalers in the Sahib Bazar area on Station Road in Joypurhat town said the locally produced sugar, made from sugarcane, has a slightly reddish colour and tastes sweeter, indicating better quality. Imported sugar, though whiter and cleaner in appearance, is considered less sweet.
However, many consumers still choose imported sugar because it is cheaper.
District Agricultural Marketing Officer Ratan Kumar Roy said there is a clear difference in quality, and efforts are being made to encourage consumers to use locally produced sugar.
Experts said that along with raising awareness about the quality of domestic sugar, reducing production costs will be necessary to help local sugar compete with imports. They believe that lower prices and higher demand for domestic sugar could help sugar mills recover from losses and generate more jobs.
