Indian sugar producers are set to start crushing cane earlier than usual in the upcoming milling season as the government seeks to bolster supplies and rein in record prices ahead of the festival period.

India is likely to receive below-normal rainfall in July, the monsoon’s wettest month, after its driest June in 12 years, threatening to further delay crop planting across large parts of the country.

A weak monsoon is emerging as India’s next inflation risk, with a developing El Niño threatening to curb rainfall and push up food prices just as an easing oil relieves broader price pressures.

A weak monsoon is emerging as India’s next inflation risk, with a developing El Niño threatening to curb rainfall and push up food prices just as an easing oil relieves broader price pressures.

India is urging farmers in rain-fed areas with limited irrigation to shift to less water-intensive crops such as pulses, oilseeds and millets as authorities prepare for a potentially weak monsoon that could weigh on agricultural output.

Raw sugar futures gave up earlier gains in New York as the market struggled to snap a recent losing streak, with a drop in crude futures and expectations of a large Brazilian cane harvest continuing to weigh on the market.

India’s annual monsoon rains that are crucial for farm output are likely to arrive around Thursday at Kerala state on the country’s southern tip, a few days after the official start date.

India’s annual monsoon rains that are crucial for farm output are likely to arrive around Thursday at Kerala state on the country’s southern tip, a few days after the official start date.

India’s annual monsoon rains that are crucial for farm output are likely to arrive around Thursday at Kerala state on the country’s southern tip, a few days after the official start date.

Sugar futures in New York posted the biggest gain in a month on concerns that an emerging El Niño weather pattern could curb rainfall and damage the cane crop in India, the world’s second-largest producer.

India lowered this year’s monsoon forecast, a blow to farmers who are already facing higher input costs due to the Middle East conflict.

India lowered this year’s monsoon forecast, a blow to farmers who are already facing higher input costs due to the Middle East conflict.

India is seeking offers from global suppliers to buy 1.7 million tons of urea, a widely used nitrogen fertilizer, ahead of the monsoon sowing season, as the Middle East conflict disrupted gas supplies for domestic output.

India is considering a request by the domestic vegetable oil industry to raise import duties, potentially increasing taxes on another major commodity just after a hike in gold tariffs.

India expects its monsoon rains to arrive early this year, offering some relief for farmers who rely on the seasonal showers for timely sowing of crops like rice and soybeans.

India, the world’s second-largest sugar producer, has banned exports for more than four months, according to an official notice, as the government seeks to protect local supplies.

India, the world’s second-largest sugar producer, has banned exports for more than four months, according to an official notice, as the government seeks to protect local supplies.

India, the world’s top buyer of diammonium phosphate, has contracted larger-than-expected volumes of the crop nutrient, a sign of stockpiling as the conflict in the Middle East disrupts supplies and drives global benchmarks higher.

An India-bound fertilizer shipment booked under an April tender has been scrapped after officials raised concerns over links to Iran, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter.

The country is already dealing with energy shortages caused by the Middle East war.