The government has allowed export of an additional one million tonnes of sugar, over and above the exports allowed a few weeks ago. This has been done as per recommendations of the empowered group of ministers (EGoM), headed by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, which had decided to allow exports of additional one million tonnes of sugar in view of the significantly higher production of the sweetener in the country, a food ministry notification said on Friday. ''It has been decided to allow exports of 10 lakh tonnes of raw, white and refined sugar under the Open General Licence (OGL) during the current sugar season 2011-12,'' the food ministry said in the notification.

Exports would be over and above what was permitted under the first tranche, but out of 2011-12 seasons’ production, it said. In the current (October-September 2011-12) sugar season, the government has allowed export of one million tonnes of sugar under the OGL to ensure timely payments to domestic cane growers. The export quota will be allocated among sugar mills based on their average production of last three years.