Pakistan drops minimum price in fresh sugar export tender

Pakistan has issued a fresh international tender to export approximately 108,000 metric tons of surplus sugar ahead of new domestic production, removing the minimum price requirement after an earlier attempt failed to attract bids.

The Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has invited international buyers to bid for the white refined sugar, which was imported in 2025 and is stored at its Pipri warehouse in Karachi.

The corporation canceled its previous tender after receiving no bids. The earlier tender, issued in September, had set a minimum export price of USD 660 per ton.

The federal government has approved the export of the surplus stocks ahead of the new sugar production season.

What quantities of sugar are available for export?

According to the tender notice, the sugar stored at TCP's Pipri warehouse in Karachi comprises 96,000 tons of fine-grain sugar and 11,086 tons of medium-grain sugar. The two listed quantities total 107,086 tons, compared with the approximately 108,000 tons advertised for the full tender.

Bidders can submit offers for either grade or both. However, bids for fine-grain sugar must cover a minimum quantity of 10,000 tons, while those seeking medium-grain sugar must bid for the entire available quantity of 11,086 tons.

The tender is open to international buyers, authorized representatives of foreign buyers and exporters, who can bid for the full stock or partial quantities within the specified limits.

Bidders must quote prices in US dollars per ton on an ex-works basis, with buyers responsible for loading and transportation costs.

What are the terms and deadlines for the tender?

The deadline for submitting bids is November 13, 2026, at 11 a.m. The bids will be opened at 11:30 a.m. the same day at TCP's principal office in Karachi.

A pre-bid meeting has been scheduled for November 11 at 11 a.m. to brief prospective buyers on the tender requirements. Bids must remain valid for 72 working hours after the submission deadline.

Successful bidders will be required to make full advance payment in foreign currency or arrange an irrevocable letter of credit payable at sight before receiving their delivery orders.

Buyers will also be responsible for applicable taxes, duties and levies in addition to the export value.

Successful bidders will have up to 90 days from acceptance of their bids to arrange transportation and lift the allocated sugar stocks. Failure to remove the stocks within the stipulated period could result in storage and demurrage charges.

TCP has reserved the right to accept or reject any or all bids and may allocate the available stocks among multiple successful bidders.