New Delhi Aug 20 - The Indian units of companies such as Nestle, Coca-Cola Co and PepsiCo Inc are likely to import sugar as the government may not allow bulk users to stock large quantities, the Economic Times newspaper said on Thursday.
The government might ask food, beverage and pharmaceutical firms not to stock sugar beyond 15 days of consumption but the limit on stocks would not be applicable on imported sugar, the paper said, quoting an unnamed food ministry official.
The companies would have to import sugar to support rapid growth, the paper said, citing an official of a beverage firm.
Domestic sugar prices have surged more than 58 percent this year due to a sharp drop in output in the year to September.
Prospects of large imports by India, the world's largest sugar consumer, has helped raw sugar futures surge to a 28-year high.