Ministers clash over sugar export

The minister for industries and the minister for petroleum are locked in a row over sugar export with the latter recommending a halt to shipments whereas the former pushes for making exports in violation of a government decision. The retail price of sugar has exceeded the benchmark set by the government, which makes it binding on the industries ministry to stop exports but it continues to be in favour of selling the sweetener in overseas markets. Some sugar mills have also failed to make payments to growers out of their export proceeds, flouting another condition of the government. The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) had allowed sugar export by linking it with a certain price benchmark. It decided that exports would be halted if the retail price exceeded the benchmark.