Indore: Increased consumption of ice cream and summer drinks during the peak summer season has led to a surge in sugar demand by over 15 per cent in Indore, a major trade centre in Madhya Pradesh, reported The Times of India.
Traders attribute this rise to the scorching heat and higher consumption of beverages and summer drinks.
As per the Siyaganj Wholesale Kirana Merchant Association, the daily sugar consumption in Indore is estimated to be about 1,000 quintals. This demand has prompted an increase in the daily arrival of sugar from Maharashtra, driven by higher demand from retailers and nearby markets. Ramesh Khandelwal, president of the Siyaganj Wholesale Kirana Merchant Association, stated, “Sugar demand typically rises in the summer months, but this year it has jumped by more than 15 per cent due to extreme weather. Bulk consumption of sugar in households, eateries, and industrial use has remarkably increased.”
Siyaganj, one of the oldest kirana markets in Indore, houses almost 500 shops. Other major wholesale markets in Indore include Malharganj, Malwa Mill, and Marothia Bazaar. Sugar from Siyaganj is distributed to markets across Indore and neighbouring cities and towns. According to traders, the peak demand period for sugar spans from March to June.
While sugar demand usually rises by 8-10 per cent every summer, traders note that rising temperatures and election rallies have driven consumption higher than usual this year. Rahul Agrawal, a grocery trader from Pardeshipura market in Indore, explained, “Summers are the peak demand period for sugar, but this time consumption is much higher. We were anticipating a normal rise this season due to fewer wedding mahurats this summer, but high temperatures and elections have boosted sugar sales.”
Traders anticipate a further increase in sugar demand as the country continues to experience a heatwave.
