LAHORE, Feb 6: Sugar price in wholesale market on Monday went up to Rs3,900 per 100kg from Saturday’s Rs3,720 — thus registering an increase of Rs1.80 per kilo in two days.

According to market analysts, the increase in wholesale market will affect retail price in the next two to three days. Price at retail level has already been hovering around Rs40 per kg.

The price of sugar has gone up from Rs18 per kg last year to Rs40 this year, and still rising. According to market insiders, many factors are contributing to the trend. One of them is free import, thus linking the local market to the international market where price has increased from $280 per ton last year to $400 this year.

The price of cane has also gone up to Rs65-70 per maund from last year’s Rs45. The government has also accused the millers of cartelization and hoarding, thus causing increase in the price.