Pakistan Re-Issues Tender for 100,000 Tons of Sugar After Bids Fail to Meet Standards
The Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has floated a fresh tender to import 100,000 metric tons of sugar, after failing to strike a deal with any of the three firms that previously submitted bids.
According to official sources, none of the companies met the government’s strict requirements regarding price, granule size, and sugar quality. The bids were rejected amid concerns about inflated rates and substandard offers.
The quoted prices ranged from $539 to $567 per ton for fine granulated sugar, while medium-grade sugar was priced at $599 per ton—figures deemed too high by authorities. Additionally, the government would have faced further costs in the form of cargo handling, port unloading, and inland transportation to get the sugar to local markets from Karachi Port.
Officials stressed that while the country is keen to secure sugar imports to stabilize domestic supply, no shortcuts will be taken. “We will ensure full transparency and will not compromise on price or quality,” one official said.
The failed bids come at a time when Pakistan is already under pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which recently raised red flags over proposed subsidies and tax waivers on imported sugar. The IMF warned that such relief measures—like the planned Rs55 per kg subsidy—could put the country’s $7 billion loan program at risk.
The imported sugar is expected to cost the government around Rs 249 per kilogram without subsidies. However, the IMF has reportedly opposed any effort to bring down that price artificially, citing long-term fiscal concerns.
The TCP will now reinitiate the process, hoping to attract more competitive offers in the second round.
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