During the 2021-22 season, sugarcane worth Rs 1.18 lakh crore was procured from farmers, of which Rs 1.12 lakh crore has been paid till September 30, leaving Rs 5,910 crore in dues, data showed.
In late May, the Centre had decided to cap sugar exports at 10 million tonnes in the 2021-22 marketing year (October-September) to maintain domestic availability and price stability.
The curbs on exports by India, also the world's second-biggest sugar exporter, could further lift benchmark white sugar prices, which are already trading near 5-1/2 year highs, traders said.