Sugar stock turns into bitter burden 

JAMALPUR, Nov 11: Around 3,500 tonnes of sugar and 900 tonnes of molasses remain unsold at state-owned Jil Bangla Sugar Mills Limited in Dewanganj, Jamalpur, as its selling prices are significantly higher than prevailing market rates.

While sugar is selling for Tk 100-105 per kg in the open market, the mill is charging Tk 125, leaving a price gap of Tk 20-25 per kg. The difference has discouraged dealers from purchasing the mill's products, leaving stock worth Tk 476.05 million in its warehouses.

With the next crushing season approaching, concerns are growing over the storage of newly produced sugar and timely payments to sugarcane growers. Dealers say sales will improve only if the mill adjusts its price to match the market.

According to the mill, it crushed 84,941 tonnes of sugarcane during the 2025-26 season and produced 5,368 tonnes of sugar. Of this, only 1,868 tonnes have been sold, leaving 3,500 tonnes worth Tk 452.2 million unsold. Another 900 tonnes of molasses worth Tk 23.85 million remain in stock.

Abdul Kader, a dealer of Kader Enterprise in Dewanganj, said, "The government sugar price is Tk 125 per kg, while it is selling for Tk 100-105 in the market. So, we are not lifting our allocated sugar because we would incur losses."

Abdus Sattar, a dealer of Sattar and Sons, said repeated losses on allocations had discouraged dealers from collecting sugar. Reducing the price could improve sales, he added, noting that dealers were currently selling sugar from other mills.

The unsold stock has also worried sugarcane growers, who fear that the mill could face a cash shortage and delay payments for supplied sugarcane.

Subahan Mondal, a farmer from Malmganj, said growers were concerned that the mill might not be able to pay them if its sugar remained unsold.

Another farmer, Haider Ali, said delayed payments would put farmers under severe financial pressure and discourage future sugarcane cultivation.

However, mill authorities expect to sell most of the existing stock before the next crushing season. Managing Director Ferdousul Alam said 3,500 tonnes of sugar worth around Tk 450 million were currently in stock. The matter had also been reported to the head office.