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The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has opened a fresh application window for the remaining quantity available under the Raw Sugar Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ). This notice deals with the balance 2,02,550 metric tonnes (MT) left after the earlier allocation round.
The initial Raw Sugar TRQ was set at 10,00,000 MT. According to DGFT, 7,97,450 MT have been allotted to applications already received by it, and 2,02,550 MT remains for allotment. Applications are now being invited afresh from eligible millers.
What makes this notice important is the way the remaining quota will be handled. DGFT will not wait for another single allocation round. Instead, applications will be grouped and processed on a daily basis. Applications received up to 5:30 PM will form that day’s batch, while those received after 5:30 PM will move to the next day. If the available quota becomes insufficient for a batch, DGFT will use a pro-rata allocation method.
For eligible millers and refiners, this means that filing early, understanding the earlier conditions and keeping track of the remaining quota are all important. The application is not just about entering details on the portal. Timing and allocation rules can directly affect the quantity ultimately received.
| Particular | Details |
| Issuing Authority | Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) |
| Department | Department of Commerce |
| Ministry | Ministry of Commerce and Industry |
| Public Notice | No. 28/2026-2027 |
| Public Notice Date | 1 September 2026 |
| Gazette Publication | 2 September 2026 |
| Subject | Application and allocation of balance quantity under TRQ Scheme for import of 10 lakh MT of raw sugar |
| Policy Basis | Paragraphs 1.03 and 2.04 of Foreign Trade Policy, 2023 |
| Original Raw Sugar TRQ | 10,00,000 MT |
| Quantity Already Allocated | 7,97,450 MT |
| Balance Quantity | 2,02,550 MT |
| Applicants Mentioned | Eligible millers and refiners |
| Application Period | Seven days from the date of publication |
| Filing Mode | Online through the DGFT portal |
| Portal Route | Import Management System → Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) |
| Daily Batch Cut-Off | 5:30 PM |
| Allocation Method | Daily batch-wise allocation |
| Position When Demand Exceeds Balance | Daily batch-wise allocation |
| Manual/Offline Filing | Not accepted |
Public Notice No. 28 should not be read as another fresh 10 lakh MT raw sugar quota. It is a follow-up notice dealing only with the quantity that remained after the first allocation exercise.
The previous procedure was conducted based on Public Notice No. 27/2026-2027, which was dated 20 August 2026, while the second notice was dated 24 August 2026. The recent notice makes mention of the meeting of the committee set up for the allocation of TRQ sugar, dated 28 August 2026.
By this stage, most of the quota had already been allocated.
The position was:
The fresh application process begins with the remaining 2,02,550 MT.
This distinction matters for businesses looking at the DGFT Raw Sugar TRQ 2026. A miller or refiner is not competing for the full 10 lakh MT anymore. It is applied against a much smaller balance that can be reduced after every daily allocation cycle.
Applicants should also remember that Public Notice No. 28 is not a replacement for the earlier notice. DGFT has made it clear that other conditions under Public Notice No. 27, as amended by the corrigendum, continue to apply. This is why an applicant should look at all connected documents before filing.
The quantity position is one of the clearest parts of the notice.
| TRQ Position | Quantity | Share of Original Quota |
| Original Raw Sugar TRQ | 10,00,000 MT | 100% |
| Already Allocated | 7,97,450 MT | 79.745% |
| Balance Available | 2,02,550 MT | 20.255% |
Nearly four-fifths of the original quota had already been allocated before DGFT opened the fresh application round.
For businesses, this changes the nature of the opportunity. The fresh round is not starting with a large untouched quota. Only 2,02,550 MT remains, and that amount can keep reducing as daily batches are processed.
This is why the practical value of filing earlier may be greater than simply waiting for the final day of the application period.
The balance available for fresh allocation is 2,02,550 MT.
That amount represents the quantity left after the previous allocation. It should not be treated as a quantity that will remain available throughout the full application window.
There are really two limits that applicants need to keep in mind:
This means the application period may still technically be open while the quota has already been completely allotted.
For an eligible miller or refiner, waiting until the end of the filing period could therefore have a practical cost. A later application may be considered against a smaller balance or may not be considered at all if the quota has already been exhausted.
DGFT has invited fresh applications from eligible millers and refiners for the remaining quantity.
The applications have to follow the manner and format prescribed under the earlier Public Notice. Public Notice No. 28 does not create a new standalone eligibility framework or a completely separate filing process.
For applicants, three things should be clear.
The fresh round covers only the balance quantity
The original 10 lakh MT has already been largely allocated. Applications under the latest notice relate only to the remaining 2,02,550 MT.
Earlier conditions still matter
The new notice primarily clarifies the balance-allocation system. The provisions in the previous Public Notice retain their significance unless amended.
Filing does not guarantee the full quantity
An applicant may apply for a particular quantity, but the final allotment depends on scrutiny, eligibility and the amount still available when the relevant batch is processed.
This last point matters for procurement planning. The quantity mentioned in the application should not automatically be treated as a confirmed import allocation.
Public Notice No. 28 specifically refers to eligible millers and refiners.
The notice does not provide a complete, fresh list of eligibility conditions. It refers back to the earlier Public Notice. Because of this, businesses should avoid making broad assumptions.
The latest notice does not say that:
Before filing a raw sugar TRQ application, the applicant should review Public Notice No. 27/2026-2027, the corrigendum dated 24 August 2026 and Public Notice No. 28/2026-2027 together.
This is also where professional DGFT import compliance services may be useful. An experienced DGFT consultant in India can help a business understand whether the latest notice applies to it and which earlier conditions still need to be followed.
DGFT has provided a seven-day application window from the date of publication of the Public Notice.
The wording is important. The notice refers to the date of publication, not simply the date printed at the top of the notice.
Businesses should also keep in mind that the seven-day period is only the filing window. It does not mean the full 2,02,550 MT remains reserved until the last day.
The following points explain the position more clearly:
A business should therefore prepare the filing on time rather than waiting merely because the formal application window is still open.
The application has to be submitted online.
DGFT has given the following route:
DGFT Website → Import Management System → Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ).
The latest Public Notice does not list every portal field or every supporting document. Those requirements should be checked from the applicable earlier notice and the actual DGFT system.
A practical filing exercise should generally involve the following:
Applicants looking for TRQ application assistance should make sure the support covers the regulatory position as well as the portal filing. Merely entering data on the DGFT portal is not enough if the applicant has not first checked eligibility or the earlier conditions.
The biggest procedural change under Public Notice No. 28 is the daily allocation system.
Earlier allocation had been completed as a one-time exercise. DGFT will handle the remaining 2,02,550 MT through daily batches instead.
Applications Received Up to 5:30 PM
All applications received up to 5:30 PM on a particular day will be treated as one batch for that day.
That batch will be processed together on the following working day.
The application will still be subject to:
The 5:30 PM cut-off therefore decides batch placement. It does not guarantee allocation.
Applications Received After 5:30 PM
Applications received after 5:30 PM will be moved to the next day’s batch.
The application does not become invalid simply because it was filed later. The difference is that it enters a later allocation cycle.
This can matter if the quota is getting close to exhaustion. A one-day shift may mean the applicant is considered against a lower balance.
Daily Batch-Wise Processing
| Filing Situation | DGFT Treatment | Practical Meaning |
| Application received up to 5:30 PM | Included in that day’s batch | Considered with other applications for that day |
| Application received after 5:30 PM | Shifted to next day’s batch | Considered in a later allocation cycle |
| Sufficient balance available | Allocation considered subject to scrutiny and eligibility | Requested quantity may be considered against available quota |
| Demand exceeds remaining quota | Pro-rata allocation | Applicant may receive less than requested |
| Quota already exhausted | Application not considered | No allocation available |
The process should not be described as a simple first-come-first-served system. DGFT is using daily groups, and where the remaining quota becomes insufficient for a batch, the pro-rata rule applies.
A valid application does not operate independently of quota availability.
DGFT has made each day’s allocation subject to the remaining quota. This means that the position can change from batch to batch.
Suppose the balance is still large when an early batch is processed. That batch may have enough quota available. A later batch may face a much smaller amount. Eventually, one batch may push the total demand above the remaining quantity, which is where the pro-rata rule becomes relevant.
The important point for businesses is simple: being within the application window is not the same thing as having quota available.
DGFT has specifically provided for the situation where a particular day’s demand exceeds the balance left.
If the quantity applied for during a day, together with the amount already allotted up to the previous day, goes beyond the remaining quota, the available quantity will be divided on a pro-rata basis among all applicants in that batch.
The proportion is linked to the quantity sought by each applicant.
In simple terms, the final relevant batch may receive only a proportion of what it requested.
For example, in planning terms, not as a calculation, businesses should keep these points in mind:
These are practical business considerations. They are not additional legal duties created by the notice.
Once the remaining quota is fully allocated, applications received afterwards will not be considered.
DGFT will communicate the position to such applicants through the portal.
This point is particularly important because the formal seven-day window may still be running at that stage.
A business should therefore not assume:
“The deadline has not passed, so the quota must still be available.”
That is not how this allocation mechanism works.
The availability of quota depends on what earlier daily batches have already used.
The portal timestamp has a direct role in deciding the batch.
DGFT will use the date and time recorded on the online portal to determine which day’s batch an application belongs to.
The position is simple:
Up to 5:30 PM → that day’s batch
After 5:30 PM → next day’s batch
Applicants should therefore pay attention to the time when the submission is actually completed and recorded.
Starting the form before 5:30 PM is not the same as having the completed application recorded before 5:30 PM.
Keeping the final acknowledgement and timestamp is also sensible from an internal compliance point of view. If a business uses DGFT application support, the acknowledgement should remain with the company’s own import or compliance team.
No.
DGFT has clearly stated that manual and offline applications will not be considered.
Applicants should therefore avoid:
The filing must follow the online mechanism prescribed by DGFT.
Public Notice No. 28 does not replace everything that came before it.
DGFT states that the terms and conditions of Public Notice No. 27/2026-2027 dated 20 August 2026, as amended through the 24 August 2026 corrigendum, will continue to apply.
This is important because the latest notice mainly tells businesses:
Any other applicable condition from the earlier Public Notice still needs to be checked there.
For this reason, businesses looking for DGFT compliance services should seek support that considers the entire set of connected notices rather than only the latest document.
DGFT has reserved the right to amend, modify, relax or withdraw provisions of Public Notice No. 28, subject to the Foreign Trade Policy and applicable law.
This means applicants should continue to monitor official DGFT communication even after filing.
A submitted application should not be treated as the final point in the process. Any later corrigendum, clarification or change should be checked from an official source before the business changes its import plan.
| Area | Earlier Position Referred to in Notice | Balance Allocation Under Public Notice No. 28 |
| Total Original TRQ | 10,00,000 MT | Balance of 2,02,550 MT |
| Allocation Format | One-time allocation | Daily allocation |
| Daily Batch System | Not described in this notice for the earlier round | Yes |
| Daily Cut-Off | Not stated here for earlier round | 5:30 PM |
| Applications After Cut-Off | Not stated here | Moved to next day’s batch |
| Final Shortage Situation | Not described here | Pro-rata allocation |
| Applications After Exhaustion | Not described here | Not considered |
| Filing Mode for Balance | - | Online through the DGFT portal |
The latest notice therefore changes the method used to distribute what is left. It does not create another 10 lakh MT of raw sugar TRQ.
The change may look technical, but it can affect business planning quite directly.
Filing Becomes More Time-Sensitive
Because allocations are made daily, an applicant cannot look only at the last date.
This may be tantamount to joining the process where part of the balance has been distributed.
The 5:30 PM Cut-Off Matters
The cut-off controls batch placement.
A filing recorded after 5:30 PM moves into the next day’s group. Where quota is close to exhaustion, the difference between one batch and another can matter.
Full Allocation Cannot Be Assumed
A business may apply for a certain quantity and receive less if the final relevant batch is subject to pro-rata allocation.
Procurement teams should therefore distinguish between:
Procurement Planning May Need Flexibility
Sugar mills and refineries may already have raw material requirements, supplier discussions and import planning underway.
Until DGFT confirms the actual allocation, businesses may need to keep those plans flexible.
Internal Teams Need to Work Together
A Raw Sugar TRQ application is not only a compliance exercise.
The procurement team needs to decide the quantity. The compliance team needs to understand the DGFT conditions. Finance may need visibility over the commercial commitment, while the import team may have to plan the next steps after allocation.
A well-prepared filing therefore requires coordination between these teams.
Businesses planning to apply should follow a clear sequence rather than rushing directly to the portal.
1. Check Eligibility
Review the eligibility position under the earlier Public Notice and corrigendum.
Public Notice No. 28 uses the words eligible millers and refiners, so the applicant should confirm that it falls within the applicable category.
2. Read All Connected DGFT Documents
Review:
This helps the applicant understand which earlier conditions remain and what the latest notice has changed.
3. Decide the Quantity to Be Applied For
The business should identify the quantity it genuinely wants to seek.
That amount becomes relevant if the final batch is handled on a pro-rata basis.
4. Prepare the Application Carefully
Use the manner and format prescribed under the applicable DGFT process.
Do not rely on assumptions about documents or requirements that have not been verified.
5. File Through the DGFT Portal
Use the official route:
DGFT → Import Management System → Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ)
Manual and offline filing is not accepted.
6. Keep the 5:30 PM Cut-Off in Mind
Allow enough time for the application to be completed and recorded.
The portal timestamp decides the batch.
7. Keep Proof of Submission
Retain the acknowledgement and timestamp with the company’s internal records.
8. Monitor DGFT Communication
Check the portal for allocation updates and any later official notice.
Businesses that do not regularly handle TRQ matters may consider professional TRQ application assistance or DGFT application support before filing.
Some risks arise directly from the way the notice is structured.
Waiting until the quota is already exhausted: later applications will not receive an allocation from the exhausted balance.
These are simple points, but each of them can affect how the application is treated.
There are useful features in the new mechanism, but there is also more pressure on applicants to act at the right time.
On the positive side, DGFT has clearly explained how the remaining quantity will be handled. Applicants know the starting balance, the seven-day window, the 5:30 PM cut-off, the treatment of late applications and the pro-rata rule.
The system also gives a clear answer to an important question: what happens when the final batch asks for more than the quota left?
The answer is proportional allocation.
At the same time, the process can make planning more difficult for businesses. Only 2,02,550 MT remains. Every daily allocation can reduce that number, and an applicant who waits may enter the process when much less quota is available.
There is also no certainty that the full requested quantity will be allotted if pro-rata allocation becomes necessary.
For most eligible businesses, the main burden is therefore not a completely new compliance requirement. It is the combination of limited availability, daily processing and the need to file within the right batch.
The process itself is fairly clear. The challenge is being ready before the available quantity falls too far.
A Raw Sugar TRQ application involves more than filling out a form. The business first needs to know whether it is eligible, which DGFT Public Notices apply, how the earlier conditions fit with Public Notice No. 28 and what quantity it intends to seek.
Corpseed provides DGFT import compliance services for businesses dealing with import permissions, DGFT filings and related regulatory matters.
For the Raw Sugar TRQ process, Corpseed can support eligible businesses with:
Businesses searching for a DGFT consultant in India should use professional support to understand the rules and prepare the filing correctly. A consultant cannot guarantee a particular quota, allocation or approval.
The final result remains subject to DGFT scrutiny, eligibility and the balance available when the relevant batch is processed.
Eligible millers and refiners that need help with the raw sugar TRQ application can approach Corpseed for DGFT import compliance services, TRQ application assistance and DGFT filing support.
DGFT Public Notice No. 28/2026-2027 has opened a fresh application window for the remaining 2,02,550 MT of raw sugar available under the original 10 lakh MT Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ). Out of the total quota, 7,97,450 MT had already been allocated under the earlier process. The latest notice now deals with the balance quantity and explains how eligible applicants can seek allocation.
For businesses planning to apply, the following points are especially important:
The main consideration for those who are qualified to make an application is that the availability of the quota for a whole week does not automatically translate to its continued availability within the same period. This is due to the fact that quotas are being issued on a daily basis, and hence one has to consider both the last day of making the application and the balance quota available at that time.
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